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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 
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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 




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POEiHS 



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PENACOOK 



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BY C. C. LORD 



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^i>i^\ RiauT 1892 
BY C. e. LORD. 



THE SEER 



PRELUDE 



r\ SWEET love, come ! The hour is dark 
'J Above the path, 

In frowning wrath, 
The storm-clouds gather, drifting low ; 
Thy promise is a tiny spark. 

Thy full effulgence show. 

O sweet love, come ! The time is long ; 

While sorrow weeps. 

The shadow creeps 
Too slowly ; from enshrouded years, 
The world^s eternity of wrong. 

Sad thought infers with tears. 

O sweet love, come ! The day is late ;• 

Adown the sky 

His footsteps try 
The steep, his goal the gloomy west ; 
Hope tires ; impatiently we wait 

Thy endless morning blest. 



THE SEER. 



jHERE is a river,^ and its current bears 
The sparkling drops that, from the Crystal Hills,^ 
Come trickling down in ceaseless, lustrous flow, 
To blend in rills and brooks, that rippling glide 
And babbling haste to seek the channel wide, 
Where waters many mingle and with zeal, 
And rush, and dash, and rout, compete for rest 
And rapture in the boundless, shining sea. 
Through ever fertile meads of living green. 
This river winds, and oft on either hand 
Some grander height, adorned with leafy pride. 
Invites the eye that dwells on prospects fair ; 
While in the bosom of the stream, that glows 
With daylight's fervor, lie sweet gems of isles. 
The jewel glints of nature's sunlit smile : 
And broader, rarer, richer, thus the scene 
Compels delight far to the ocean wave. 

Upon the surface of this river bright. 

One sweeps the oar, or, in its limpid depths. 



8 THE SEER, 

Seeks zest luxurious in healthful meed, 

Or wanders in the meadows, culling blooms, 

Or on the farther heights o'erlooks the vale. 

To praise its beauty and perchance to tell. 

In numbers, wealth, and fame, the busy marts 

That owe estate and station to the stream 

That e'er submits to bonds of prosy pelf, 

Serves labor's end, while tempting art's emprise 

In gentler poesy of mystic vein ; 

Or he, for memories of legends old. 

In mind ignores all present toils and cares. 

And, taking up the thread of dim events. 

That far retreat within the shades of time. 

He traces fain the course of stalwart deeds 

And startling wonders, wrought in ancient days. 

When the great life now surging was unborn. 

Till, thought forgetting themes and things that are, 

His fancy revels in old dreams that were. 

Interlude. 

§SKY, so beautiful and bright, 
O tell us whence, below, above, 
Came we within thy sphere of light — 
So much to see, so much to love — 
When morn the sunlit flood unbars, 
When eve reveals the moon and stars ! 



THE SEER. 

O sun, whose beams adorn the day 

And guide creation^s feet aright ; 
O moon and stars, whose love-lights play 

To cheer the aspects of the night ; 
What treasures of thy vision hold 
The secret of the eons old ? 

The accents of the morn are dumb, 

The voices of the eve are still : 
From man^s own lips the word shall come, 

When wisdom all the world shall fill. 
With soul and sense, effulgent, bright. 
The morning and the evening light. 

FT is a day when clouds obscure the sun 
Of the dark world, and earth in somber weeds 
Sits dumb in shade and fosters dim designs 
Of dull futurity ; but when a ray 
Breaks from the blazing dome, a narrow rift 
In dismal vapors parting, hope revives 
In earth's cold bosom, and a winsome smile 
Lights all the face of nature, glad and gay, 
For promise yet of sunshine full and free, 
When wild and field together shall the prize 
And blessing reap in leaf, and bud, and bloom. 
The soul of man in shadows likewise droops 
When daylight languishes, and love's bright orb, 



lO THE SEER, 

Lord of the realms ascendant, veils his face 

In the dank mists of sense, the wiles of time 

Faith's prospects blinding, till the heart of doubt 

And dread revives in sparkling, pure delight 

For one blest ray that cheers the broad expanse 

Of being, sentient of peace and pain. 

When clouds roll off and sunshine beams afar : 

And, as the wilderness and fruitful land, 

In nature's scheme, express their kindred pride, 

Both low and high, in life's diviner plan. 

Partake of treasure and their sorrows hide. 

Three hundred years and iifty,^ — let us count 

In teeming fancy, for uncertain time 

Far backward reaches to a home and scene 

From which the thread inceptive of this tale. 

So oddly told, takes up lithe fancy's course 

To fact seen culminative. In the past — 

So dim, so strange to life's conception late ! — 

When erst the land, through which the river bright 

Far seaward courses, was a waste and wild. 

Where savage hordes usurped the vast domain. 

In a rude shelter, on a lofty hill,* 

That from the west o'erlooks the eastern vale. 

Where winds the stream in motion tortuous. 

There dwelt the chief who swayed the local clan 

Of instincts rude, in majesty enshrined. 



THE SEER, II 

Great Kunnewa,^ of Nipmuck ^ blood and fame, 

Was lord of Penacook,"^ and in his house, 

A wigwam wrought of wood, and bark, and skins,^ 

Abode his faithful wife, true, royal squaw. 

Whose feats domestic won the pride and praise 

Of all her sisters dusky of the tribe. 

She planted maize, and beans, and luscious gourds. 

And trained their growth, and plucked the harvest rich 

In bounty pleasant to life's crude emprise. 

But far too small for expectation high 

That now pervades the breast of tillage fair. 

Yet while she toiled, this wife of Kunnewa, 

Newissit^ named, there oft a silent shade 

Crept o'er her face, and then betimes she spoke 

Of deep concern for life's swift issues vast. 

The while her thought seemed wider than the world : 

And then she told how oft her spirit walked 

And talked with Manit ^^ and his happy host. 

And said, '^ O squaws of braves. Keep ear ! Keep eye ! J 

The good Great Spirit haunts the thoughtless world — 

Breathes in the corn, and in the blossom smiles. 

When bean and gourd rejoice in pleasant light. 

And, when the bee the sweet drop sips and sings, 

The Spirit's voice exults in gladness free." 

One morning Kunnewa, the sachem brave, 
Arose to greet the early dawning day^ 



12 THE SEER. 

And forth advance upon the missions bold 

That e'er engrossed the fierce and ardent breast 

Of savage men that stooped ne'er once to toil.^^ 

With tomahawk in belt, his bow he grasped, 

His well stocked quiver o'er his shoulder swung, 

The nimble deer to capture, or the bear 

Of slow yet direful pace to render doom. 

Or e'en some foe incautious of his tribe 

Compel to bite the dust, for Penacooks 

Oft met sharp war in service of the wild. 

As Kunnewa, the chief, thus purpose held 

In preparation, from her couch of skins 

Awoke Newissit, wife and thoughtful squaw. 

To look upon her lord, in armor clad, 

With features set, his skin in painted hues. 

For terror swift and vengeance quick and sure. 

The gentle squaw uplooked with startled gaze 

And troubled vision, while with hastv words 

She spoke her thought in soft but earnest plaint. 

" You wake me with your moods," she said in pain, 

"And fright my eyes and scare away my dream 

Of things too pure and peaceful for the day 

That dawns alone for ceaseless war and woe ! " 

Then Kunnewa, the sachem, warrior great. 

In wonder on his spouse his aspect turned 

And said, " What mean ye by this doleful speech 

To him who lives to lure and lash his foes, 



THE SEER. 13 

Until, as dead leaves fly before the breeze, 

They sink, and waste, and wander, vanquished, dumb ? '' 

Then answered fair Newissit, *^As I lay 

Asleep before you waked me by a sound, 

I dreamed and saw the shining, distant east. 

To which the wigwam opes, and, lo ! the sun 

Arose in mighty strength, yet shed his light 

Upon the world as beams a tender smile : 

And, as I looked, behold ! a sachem bright 

Came from the sun and stood before the door, 

His face in sweetness clad, and all his form 

Was rich in shapely mould and lustrous mien. 

The feathers on his head were sunlit flames, 

His mantle fell in folds of daylight sheen, 

And, on his feet, the moccasins he wore 

With dewdrops sparkled, nameless in their glow. 

Thus, while I wondered, yet without a fear. 

What mission strange this shining sachem bore, 

He spoke, — ^ I am the Manit, and I come 

To tell thee things that yet shall gladly be. 

The time is ripe with trouble and with tears, 

And angry death the harvest reaps in blood, 

But these my people yet shall see a sign. 

As the new moon breaks softly in the west. 

To fill the night with all its gentle fire. 

The new man comes to thoughtless passion sway 

And tame the hearts that now in fierceness rage, 



14 THE SEER, 

And one morn when the sun upon the sky 
Seeks his far height above the lustrous world, 
Thy soul shall bow, and forth shall come thy child, 
Son of the sun, and he shall wisdom find 
And truth impart, while, man of medicine, 
His wondrous deeds shall fame his name afar. 
His heart shall bear the treasure of the sun. 
His thought shall know the riches of the moon. 
And all the stars shall speak him face to face, 
And while the wind shall blow, the waters run. 
And leaf and blossom deck the landscape wide. 
He shall have skill to teach and guide the tribe 
That by his judgment, in rare aspects seen. 
Shall many woes escape and gladness find — 
In valor proud, so keen his sight shall be.' ^^ 
As thus he spoke, I waked and lost my dream." 

When Kunnewa, the lordly chief, this tale 
Had listed fully, once expression strange 
His face betokened, and a softer light 
Beamed in his features. Briefly to the eye 
Of his fond squaw, it seemed a gentler mien 
And nobler joy, in kinder aims fulfilled, 
Recast his being in diviner mould. 
Disclosing godlike presence in the man. 
Upon Newissit once he cast a glance 
Beneficent ; then on his bow he looked 



THE SEER, IS 

And touched his quiver with half-careless hand, 

As if a sudden thought to lay it by 

Had half possessed his soul ; and then the strength 

Of savage ardor in his breast revived, 

His aspect darkened, and his form grew fierce, 

The while he made reply, — " The Manit lives. 

The Sachem great, who all things makes and rules. 

And sun, and moon, and stars his will obey. 

And on the storm he rides, and in the light 

Smiles on the world, and gives his children bread 

Of the green fields and meat of forests dark 

And of deep waters ; and, some day, at last. 

As sunshine breaks for storms, his heart may turn 

Our lives from war to peace, and in the earth 

Lay low the tomahawk ^^ in endless rest : 

But till he comes to stay the warlike arm 

That draws the bow, and speeds the arrow sharp, 

And swings the hatchet high, the foe to kill, 

I, Kunnewa, the chief of Penacook, 

Will know no rest while other tribes invade 

My realm for spoil ; and all my trusty braves 

I rally to the fight till death for aye." 

Thus having said, he forth assumed his way, 

His fate to bear and prowess swift attest. 

Newissit, from that hour, a sacred pledge 
And pleasure fostered in her deepest breast, 



1 6 THE SEER. 

And pondered oft upon the Spirit's words ; 

And, while she tended oft the rising corn, 

Or cHmbing bean, or graceful, roving gourd. 

Her rapt reflection strayed in pleasant light 

Through fields of joyful hope and promise sweet : 

And when, one morn, within her wigwam kind. 

She saw the sunbeams break across the vale. 

Where wound the river through the verdant meads, 

To enter by her door and bless her face, 

And heard the cheerful word, " It is a son," 

Her soul, ecstatic, rose in virtue's pride 

Till skies seemed near and earth sank far away. 

The child grew strong, and as the patient years 

Their seasons told, in favor thrived apace. 

And oft some eye observant marked the grace 

Of mien and mind that flourished in such might 

In life so tender and in days so few. 

In childish ranks he drew the mimic bow. 

And joined the chase pretended, and his zeal 

Oft won the prize of boyhood's valor feigned, 

And, little chief, he bore the signal plume ^^ 

In childlike majesty, nor once he deigned 

To honor wound or seem of vain conceit 

Of lofty privilege for other's pain, 

And thus found praise of all, or young, or old : 

Yet greater virtue claimed his service true. 

Betimes, when comrades of his childhood strove 



THE SEER. 17 

In tempting sports, he fled the mirthful van 

And in seclusion sought some odd recourse 

Of childlike fancy, nor his face was seen 

Within the daily circle, till his mind, 

In secret contemplation in the dell. 

Or on the height, some deep conception gained 

Of life and law to common natures vain ; 

And e'er from such excursions of the soul 

In silent realms he brought some hint, or art, 

Of mind mysterious that probed all things 

E'en to their depths, the while he spoke the word, 

Or wrought the deed, whose province e'er escapes 

All but the great magician, he whose grasp 

Of thought and theme all subtle wisdom solves. 

And he whose will all plastic nature makes 

Subservient ; and thoughtful braves beheld 

The growing boy and said with solemn mien, 

" He makes his medicine,^^ and yet will be 

A mighty chief of wonders seen and known." 

Such things Newisset cherished, and her heart 

Grew big with expectation, while she watched 

Her darling boy in manly grace increased, 

Each day her hope's fulfillment, as the lad 

Leaned on her breast in filial love's return 

For love maternal, till fruition rich 

Once thrilled her soul and made existence blest 

In bright reality. One autumn eve. 



1 8 THE SEER. 

Within the wigwam's shelter, while she^sat, 
To look beyond the door and see the vale, 
Resplendent in the moonlight soft and full. 
She felt a hand upon her shoulder laid 
And gladdened, for her son, the well-beloved. 
Close to her side, withdrawn from outward scenes, 
Approached her tenderly and touched her form 
In potent phase of blessing ; and, her heart 
In pride exultant, of light thought, she said, 
'' Whence come ye ? " Then he said, with strange con- 
cern 
And odd emprise of fervor, '^ From the play 
Wherein I saw a vision, great and true. 
Although no other lad in sport was keen 
To see the wonder, and I come to tell 
Your ear and loose my troubled heart in bonds 
Of startled care and fear unfelt before.'' 
Then she responded, " Tell me all, my child ! 
The Spirit, the Great Manit, walks the world, 
And oft his presence prompts the restless eye 
To see his face and form, or mark the signs 
By which he turns the thought to purer themes 
And deeper knowledge. Let your heart be calm ! " 
Then he, with ardor, though in quiet, broke 
His burdened mind and thus his vision told : 
" But just a space ago, when, with the boys, 
I played the deer and wolf ^^ upon the green, 



THE SEER. . 19 

The moon, big with the harvest, up the east 

Came shining, as you now in full behold 

It only smaller, and we stopped in play 

To look upon its face, so wide and round. 

And then I saw the wonder. From the moon. 

Came forth great, dark canoes, as on the sea, 

With wings of white, and touched the solid land. 

And from them poured armed hosts of paleface braves. 

And some on horses, and great guns they drew 

That seemed to flash and thunder like the cloud 

That bursts upon the sky when the sharp heat 

Has scorched the earth and made the light leaves droop 

Upon the thrifty tree : and, as I looked, 

A paleface powwow, ^"^ in a blanket long 

And dark, his bare head white with flowing locks. 

And stepping on before the hasting braves, 

He high within his hand upheld a form 

Like wide, white leaves together held in bond. 

And cried, * Peace ! Peace !' in speech that made me glad 

And then the stars that first began to peep 

Seemed nodding to his word, as if he spoke 

Great wisdom. Just then once my lifted hand 

I pointed to the moon and with loud voice 

Cried out, ^ See ! See ! The great canoes ! The braves ! 

The paleface powwow ! ' Then the laughing boys. 

With mocking tongues, made merry ; and I looked 

Once more, and all the vision strange had fled." 
2 



20 THE SEER. 

The mother's heart, when thronged with mystic hopes, 

Exults with thrilling rapture when the pledge 

Of golden promise in her offspring sweet 

Thrives to perfection by the gift of grace 

She holds beneficent, supreme, divine. 

Newissit listened to the spectral tale 

Of her fond son and felt the magic glow 

That warms affection into flaming bliss 

For treasure rarer found than earth can show 

When unillumined by great Heaven's sun. 

Serene and holy ; and her comfort vast 

She spoke unto her child and gave him rest 

Of restless yearning for the cause that probed 

His being and composure roused to pain : 

And when soft, soothing sleep its curtain drew, 

Two souls sailed sweetly on the sighless sea. 

Interlude. 



Y soul was rapt just now ; the passing hour 
Held one blest moment ; in a field of light 
I stood ; at once I saw a smiling bower. 

With lustrous bloom, that perfume breathed, bedight. 



Close by, within a graceful, spreading tree, 
A trill of bird notes warbled ; life was gay ; 

A squirrel leaped and chirped in playful glee ; 
A sprightly bee tuned for the gladsome day, 



THE SEER. 21 

The soft air, floating 'neath the crystal sky, 

Lisped gentle melody in leaf and bough ; 
A rippling, sparkling brook sang lullaby 

To care, and said, " Heart, heart, be happy now ! " 

Such transport, brief and blissful ! Thrilled, intense, 
Yet more serene, I deemed earth's sorrows dead ; 

Then, as a flame dissolves, the evidence 

Of sweet enchantment shimmered and had fled. 

What was it? Only just a waking dream 

That decked the world with blessing, full and free ; 

In subtle mood, reflection cast a gleam 

On one who thinks of, loves, and Jives for me. 

(HE circuit of the sun, in potent light 
And thrilling fervor, oft the world awakes 
From wintry stupor and the earth inspires 
With spring's lithe energy. The landscape thrives, 
The buds expand, the leaves exult in green, 
And blossoms revel in their nameless pride. 
And all things triumph in the shining march 
To rich maturity that crowns the scene. 
Thus from the dark prenatal springs the man, 
And, in the gifts and graces loaned of Life, 
Creative, boundless, endless, takes his way 
To manhood's goal with joy, and glories there 
In strength and grandeur, king and lord of all 



22 THE SEER. 

That, 'neath the sunlit sky, exists and breathes. 

The hero of this tale, with hasting time. 

His hope accomplished, clad in signal guise 

Of man preeminent, majestic, great. 

The wisdom and the wonder of his tribe. 

And, in succession of the changeless law, 

A sachem stood, of royal rank renowned. 

Great Kunnewa, his sire, as falls the oak 

Before the tempest's blast, by death's fell hand. 

Lay prostrate, while the wild, weird, wailing chant 

Of faithful braves his spirit buoyed in peace 

And wafted gently to the hunting grounds. 

Where happy souls no longer grieve nor tire ; 

And he, true son, who took the regal reign 

By right inheritance, of custom bore 

His choice cognomen, Passaconnaway^ 

Child of the Bear,^^ and homage claimed and won. 

There are of men who bear compounded worth 
In matchless measure. He whose fame we keep. 
Chief Passaconnaway, of talents wide. 
In fruitful range of useful aims and ends, 
In one quick soul a thousand virtues held. 
And puissant made all, and blessed his kind. 
Nor, in evolving thought, may justice waive 
His praise domestic. Longing, luring love. 
Through presents rich and honors bending low. 



THE SEER, 23 

Had won Sumana,^^ rarest bride and leal, 

And to his wigwam brought, and, ripe reward 

Of chaste devotion, sons and daughters, found, 

Sweet offspring, brave and fair, a father's joy 

And mother's swift delight, rare, rich, and pure. 

Of noble children, Nanamocomuck 

Became the chief Wachusett, and the mild. 

Wise Wonalancet, in full time's decree, 

His sire succeeded, chief of Penacooks, 

And brave Unanunquosit, and the lithe, 

True Nonatomecut, unsullied fame 

Kept constant, while a daughter, choice and fair. 

Wife of brave Nobhow in the course of days. 

And bright Wanuchus, she who Saugus loved. 

To stir romance that yet thrives in the song 

Of the sweet minstrel,^^ proved the worth and praise 

Of their great line ancestral. Lord of realms 

That stretched far by the river, of this tale 

The theme inceptive, swift,^^ bright Merrimack, 

The sachem Passaconnaway his seat 

Of royal pride at Namoskeag^^ held fast. 

Though oft his zeal of change, in fair emprise 

Of pleasure and of patience, fain induced 

Transition comforting. The sachem proud, 

In choice diversified — as ever turns 

The soul of weighty cares to scenes that soothe 

By variation all the thought o'erworn — 



24 THE SEER. 

For kind and calm composure of the mind, 

Loosed free of bonds that chafe and vex the man 

Of deep concern for self and subjects true — 

Himself in honor conscious of his trust 

And strict account to law, unswerving, just, 

And endless fondly turned and dwelt apart — 

On the fair isle^^ that, northward, in the stream, 

Encircled by the water, smiles in light. 

Gem of the Merrimack ; or yet he took 

His pleasant journey southward on the wave. 

Through smiling meadows — cheering thoughts' emprise 

Of dark anxiety — till where an isle 

Decks the fair river's bosom, ere the stream, 

Souhegan called, pours out its flood of toil 

And to the Merrimack its task resigns 

In the great world hydraulic,^^ there to pause 

In grateful pastime. Nor was he, the chief. 

The mighty sachem, found of idle zest 

The careless victim, for he wisely sought 

The refuge of the isles in spring's bright hours, 

To mark the hopeful seed that, dropped to earth, 

The promise bore of harvest ripe and rich, 

And, through the simple service of the. soil, 

Suppress the strain that strove with inward stress. 

Behold the man, the chief, the sachem wise 
To rule his realm with right and reap reward 



THE SEER. 25 

Of honest homage from his subject tribe, 

Yet found of adoration, strange but strong, 

For the great marvel of his land and line ; 

For he, brave Passaconnaway, had proved 

In meed the promise of the Manit, made 

To rapt Newissit in the dream of morn. 

And, like the Man of twofold nature, viewed 

The scenes of time with hints ideal, weird, 

That craved exemption of the bonds of sense. 

In exaltation of the life that tries 

Sublimest heights and shames the world unborn 

To rich realities that crown the zeal 

Of the quick spirit. In a savage mien. 

Chief Passaconnaway, in cruder phase. 

The soul made manifest, and knowledge gained. 

And prescience took, of grander force and fact 

That far escape the common conscience, set 

Too much on earth and earthly aims and ends.^^ 

In ways domestic e'er he sought the price 

Of simple virtue, and in regal paths 

The prize of duty plain allured his eye ; 

And, man of medicine, in measure rare. 

He touched all hearts and proved his mission deep 

In depths mysterious to thoughtless minds 

That foster sense and seeming, barren, blind. 

The rude, wild tribe, that judgment lacked, in vain 

Tried explanation of its sachem's gift 



26 THE SEER. 

And grace of manhood in transcendent might, 

And gave its thoughts to fancy till it dreamed 

How he could water burn, the rocks command 

To change their stations, and the trees entice 

To merry dances, and the live, green leaf 

Evolve from ashes of the dry leaf burned, 

And make the dead snake's skin writhe yet again, 

In life resuscitate, and cold ice show 

Upon the surface of the full bowl, hot 

With summer's fervor in its liquid depths : 

And wilder still swift frenzy raged in flight. 

A famed tradition bore the strange report 

That once upon the green and happy shore 

Of the great lake, the Spirit's joyful smile,^^ 

That rare New Hampshire's scenes adorns with pride, 

A contest proved great Passaconnaway 

Of skill to dare and doom to death with speed 

A rival chief, with mystic art endowed, 

A challenge tested. Sitting face to face 

Upon the ground, each man his wisdom tried 

In emulation ; and the greater chief. 

Impatient of the trial, all his might 

Of medicine assumed, and to his foe. 

Of equal skill first found, cried loudly, ^ Die ! " 

Then he, the vanquished, sighed, and swayed, and fell. 

His spirit parting from the prostrate clay 

And floating, homeless, on the mindless wind. 



THE SEER. 27 

Rude, VN^ild imagination of the tribe, 
Of savage thought and instinct, clad the chief 
In robes of lurid light that magic weaves 
For mindless mortals ; but the man within. 
To virtue moulded, and to wisdom moved, 
And unto strength exerted, proved the aims 
That soar above delusion, rash and vain. 
And to life's clearer vision, peering high 
Above the clouds of sense, reveal the worth. 
Serene and bright, sublime and well refined, — 
The majesty of selfhood, godlike, great. 



Interlude. 

Ji HEED not beauty of the face, 
? With all the complements of grace, 
That admiration win apace, 

Yet thou art very fair, my love ; 
To all sweet excellence implies 
In mould and mien, I close mine eyes ; 
My hope on other pride relies 

That dwells within thy form, my love. 

Bright wealth of thought, transcending sense 
With truth's sublimer evidence. 
Charms not to lure me in suspense. 
Though thou art very wise, my love ; 



28 THE SEER, 

Than lustrous gems of wisdom^s skill, 
That nobler adoration fill, 
I prize a richer treasure still 

That gleams within thy mind, my love. 

For worth that sacred aims reveal, 
The heart that craves a purer zeal 
Affects me not with swift appeal. 

Yet thou art very good, my love ; 
Beyond the purpose of thy days, 
That guides thy feet in holy ways. 
Devotion truer still I praise 

That flames within thy soul, my love. 

By fate entranced, I am as he 
Who thee beholds and yet to see 
A rarer self evolve in thee, 

Though fair, and wise, and good, my love ; 
Like a rapt vision of the night, 
A transport strange refines my sight, — 
Thou art transfigured in the light 

That shows thee all divine, my love. 



|HERE is an instinct true in riper souls 
That far o'erleaps the narrow bounds of self 
And widely roams in realms of use, and takes 
Of each concern of men an ample meed, 
And, in the frame composite of a whole, 



THE SEER. 29 

Mad chaos tames and order renders mild, 
Beneficent, and true, and heals the world. 
In civil sway, this spring of nobler law, 
In cognizance of broader ends and weal, 
Enlists, inlocks, and binds the aims diverse 
Of social energy, and man to man 
Makes leal and gentle, hopeful, helpful, kind. 
Till each, upholding each, makes stable all. 
The sachem wise, great Passaconnaway, 
Of Penacook the royal head and pride. 
In phase eccentric, in the savage realms. 
Law's higher rule attested, till he made 
War peace, loss gain, and weakness strength, 
And saved the heritage of name and fame 
Of Penacooks held choice, their ancient line 
Esteeming, while their prospects rich and rare. 
In schemes participant of others' zest 
And worth, involved an intermingled pride 
And faith of tribe to tribe with pledges fast. 

Chief Passaconnaway, his royal mind 
Big with the legends of the warlike days 
Known to his fathers — and in childhood's ear 
Rehearsed, the swift alternate zest and pain. 
For vanquished foe or victor friend, the face 
In flush and paleness showing — wisely bent 
On firm security of future years, 



30 THE SEER. 

Seen glad and boonful with prophetic eye, 

His brother sachems sought with potent zeal 

And speech persuasive, and he broke his thought : 

*' Ye know, my brothers, how in other days, 

My fathers met the foe, the Tarrantine,*^"^ 

Child of the east, with false and cruel breast. 

Or yet the Mohog,^^ from the sunset land. 

So fierce and bold, with heart to strike with dread, 

And bore his anger, while their souls were tried 

To stay his march and save the darling lives 

Of wives so dear and tender children sweet. 

Ye know one year the Mohog came with strength 

And pressed our people till, upon the height,^^ 

That from the east o'erlooks the Merrimack, 

The happy stream through smiling meads that winds, 

We built a mighty fort, of fallen trees. 

And in it put our wives and children safe, 

With fruitful bounties of the earth at hand. 

And kept our lives and watched the haughty foe. 

His fortress strong upon the farther side 

Of the bright river.^^ Ye have heard us tell 

How one sad day, the Mohog, shrewd and bold. 

With heart deceitful, sent a daring brave 

Across the stream to north, to wander down 

E'en to our fort and, by his loneness, seem 

Our easy captive ; but, with thoughtless zeal 

As we him sought for prize, he wildly fled 



THE SEER. 31 

And into ambush deadly led us on ; 

And though with valor we the battle held, 

And to the Mohog gave great bloody woe, 

So that e'er since the vexer is no more, 

Yet we in weakness drooped till all our pride, 

As a lone tree before the tempest bows 

And trembles for its fate, in sore fear shakes 

Lest some misfortune blast it. Hear ye now ! 

What tribe holds safety sure, when, long and lone. 

It bears a hostile purpose ? Let us join 

Our willing hands, and with our hands our hearts. 

Our aims unite, our ends compound in one. 

And shame our foes ! The thrifty, clustered wood. 

Upon the hilltop bleak, the storm withstands. 

And many tribes as one receive the shock 

That, harmless unto all, one lone destroys. 

Join ye with me ! The future holds our peace 

In present prospect. In my heart I feel 

A happy promise, and I see the years 

Break from the sun in fertile, fruitful days. 

While the moon smiles upon the silent world 

In safety sleeping, and the watchful stars 

Blink blissfully and bless the balmy scene. 

Stay not ! I bear upon my pleading tongue 

The message of the Manit, for he breathes 

His word upon the air that in my ear 

Breaks softly, and his faithful promise smiles 



32 THE SEER, 

In the green fields, with waving bloom, and glows 
In the rich autumn, when the corn is ripe, 
And the glad squaws the harvest reap with songs, 
And the broad land no solace seeks for tears." 

The music of his speech the tribes allured. 

And Passaconnaway, the sachem true. 

Had fruitage of his labors, and they said 

Who listened to his pleading, full of zeal, — 

" He has good tongue and speaks the honest word,- 

And let us join our hands and be his friends. 

And keep our lives, and give our wives great peace 

And children safety." Then the pledges fast 

They gave with ardor till of tribes of braves 

Wise Penacook,^^ and shrewd Pentucket,^^ quick 

To see the object prudent, Swamscot,^^ clear 

In judgment, Newichwannock,^^ swift to grasp 

The thought far reaching — each with each in all — 

Made law confederate, and still the clans 

Their cause made common, and, for surer ends 

Of loyalty and grandeur, him made head — 

The chief of chiefs — who wrought the mighty change, 

To be Bashaba, prince, supreme, renowned,^^ 

While all the land rejoiced, with hush of war. 

And smiling bounties of the fertile fields. 

And thriving products of the woods and streams, 

Till earth seemed proud and life the bliss of dreams. 



THE SEER. 33 

Interlude. 

NON and ever comes a happy spell 
That halts the dead march of the mournful years, 
When sprightly joys time's solemn steps compel, 
And smiles assume the place usurped by tears. 

Then budding youth exults in boundless pride. 
With garlands decked, and in the sunlight plays. 

And sere and russet age makes haste to hide 
Its weeds, to hail and keep the day of days. 

Pale desolation walks with rueful mien 

The earth, while grief demands men's homage meet, 
Till oft love's angel from the glad unseen 

Stops thwart the way with mission firm as sweet. 

iHERE is an hour that oft the lives of men 
Crow^ns with blest honor, though the shining prize 
Of earth's swiit emulation in the strife 
Of souls ambitious, fails to v^oo and v^in 
The hearts expectant ; and betimes the zeal 
That once burns fiercely for time's treasure fair 
In sudden aspect turns and flames for worth 
That lures, and lasts, and lives for aye and aye, 
Forgetting e'er the promise held in trust 
But of the glozing world : and happy he 



34 THE SEER. 

Who, born for wider aims and broader ends, 

In gifts surpassing minds of simpler mould, 

Turns from the less award and lends his gaze 

Straight to the greater, and with ardent zest 

Divines the prospect rich and presses on 

To ripe fulfillment in the nobler sphere 

Of endless virtue. Passaconnaway, 

The grand Bashaba, chieftain, skillful, keen 

In thought percipient, of mystic hints 

Of soul pervading substance, and of sight 

That peeped beyond the veil of time's dark bound, 

In mien majestic, such as savage life, 

In simple form and phase, on man bestovv^s. 

Earth's pride resigned and pleasure sought and found 

In deeds of virtue rare, and friend and foe. 

Moved by his goodness ripe and wisdom swift. 

Thrilled, awed, astonished, for such prescience was 

Within his ken as ever fosters fame. 

Time lives, and lasts, and ever proves the ends 
That oft the feet of men to paths unsought 
Divert, direct, compel, till wondrous change 
Dawns on the prospects of this life intense 
And fraught with issues mighty in their scope 
And empire : and betimes a gifted soul 
A glimpse anticipant of coming days 
In clearness sees, as ever oft the sun 



THE SEER. 35 

Foretells his march triumphant up the east 

By golden luster of the rising morn, 

Or ever yet the mild, complacent moon 

Sends forth her heralds in pellucid rays 

Of silver light, to break the faithful word 

That proves her advent on the evening fair. 

The time drew nigh when civil law should sway 

The land where savage rule in part but held 

Earth's destiny, evolving unto wish. 

And wealth, and worth transcending ever far 

The instinct barbarous, till he who fain 

Brooks all its onset strives but to be crushed 

Beneath its wheel, resistless, tireless, swift. 

Wise Passaconnaway, the sachem true 

And great Bashaba, in the social east. 

Saw the strong twilight of the civil sun. 

Lord of ascending day, and, for pale doubt. 

His soul assumed bright truth and humbly bowed, 

And homage rendered unto fruitful fact 

And deed submissive, pattern of his tribes. ^^ 

At length, on mission to the distant sea. 

Where great Piscataqua its flood combines 

And mixes e'er with ocean, ^"^ once he grasped-— 

Chief Passaconnaway — the potent hand 

Of civil order, and its face, and form. 

And mien in contemplation held and viewed 

With wonder vast and deep, consuming awe, 



36 THE SEER. 

And in prompt resolution shaped his will 

And purpose, just, discreet, exact, and kind.^^ 

Then, to his tribes returning, in the stress 

Of thought considerate and ardor full. 

He spoke the words that from his burning zeal 

Broke forth like flashes of a signal fire 

In far extended warning. " Hear, my braves ! " 

He made his strong appeal. "The tempest swift 

Of the Great Spirit sweeps the feeble earth 

And proves all things resistless. In its might, 

The Manit's torrent from the mountain breaks. 

And naught withstands it. Mighty chiefs, and braves 

Of valor high, nor strength nor work obtains 

When the Almighty Sachem forth extends 

His hand unto his purpose. Be ye ware ! 

The paleface comes, the tempest of the time 

And torrent of the season, e'er to bear 

On and still on the will, the wish, and wrath 

Of the Great Spirit, if a hand but dare 

Rise to resist, in ruth and rancor rude 

Of rash revenge. Then let the tomahawk 

Lie useless, buried in the fertile ground, 

The while we smoke the cheerful pipe of peace ^^ 

Beneath the lisping trees, where soft winds blow ; 

i\nd let him have our hearts — the Chief that rules 

Our fates and days — and in his happy smile. 

That lights his face to see our homage sure. 



4 



THE SEER. 37 

Repose and save the life that e'er we waste 

Who strive to stay the future. In such zeal 

Of noble efforts, we may find the way 

And learn the wisdom that safe counsel take 

Of the hereafter till, our fears allayed. 

Our faith confirmed, our courage fortified, 

We may abide, and thrive, and care resign ! " 

Then while he spoke, the great Bashaba, he 

Of soul sincere as e'en of thoughtful mind. 

His word made faithful in the action prompt 

That doubt dispelled and proved the deed sublime. 

To prudent acts and counsels wise disposed. 

In judgment keen of aim and end discreet. 

In justice sound, he held for friend and foe 

The equal measure of the sure reward 

And certain penalty in practice true. 

And law made eminent in right and rule. 

One day, as ever nearer drew and thrived 

The mission of the paleface, skilled and strong, 

A stranger of the east with wares and words 

That ever tempt the eye and charm the ear. 

Within the savage circle all his wealth 

And art displayed and craved attention kind 

And patronage replete with pleasant gain : 

And when a redman, doubtful, hasty, rash. 

The proffer fair despised and, in his zest 

Impassioned, with his weapon sharp and swift, 



38 THE SEER. 

The life made forfeit of the mercer mild, 
The dire, disastrous deed his own made pledge 
Of pain and peril. Passaconnaway 
The culprit seized and of his victim's law 
His fate made consequent, and to the hand 
Of English justice stern the wretch consigned.'*^ 

There is a sentiment in human souls 

That e'er regards the worth that springs from zeal 

That halts not at the door of fate that craves 

Devotion's sacrifice of self in sooth 

And sincere service of the cause it claims 

In high supremacy of lofty praise. 

The man impetuous who clamors oft 

For some preeminence in scheme or skill. 

That bears some promise to a wishful world, 

And in his soul grieves not, nor bleeds within 

His deepest heart, for woe that works its wealth 

Of wisdom weighty in the conscience true, 

Has no impartment of life's treasures rare, 

Rich, and redundant in unending gain. 

The great Bashaba, Passaconnaway, 

In purpose just and strict example true. 

His faith made fact in humble zeal that bore 

Its fruit of patience in the face of pain, 

That with its dart his bosom probed with smart, 

His shrouded soul in sorrow. Thus was he 



THE SEER, 39 

A guide revealed in grandeur, chief sublime. 

In the rude days, when simple savage clans 

And civil circles crude, on shores involved 

In claims disputed and in war's alarms, 

Wild apprehension oft left rest unfound 

Of swift suspicion, thoughtless, senseless, wrong : 

And once wise Passaconnaway, the man 

Of just discernment and of purpose kind. 

When misconception sped to reckless deeds. 

Was victim sought of English bold emprise 

And rash revenge. With arms and mission stern. 

Of paleface warriors, forty, each with lust 

Of causeless blame and booty, came with speed. 

To straight fulfill the legal, high behest, 

And Passaconnaway, imagined foe. 

Seize and make captive in degrading bonds. 

For English safety : but, in sequence strange, 

A mighty storm and dark Bashaba gave. 

Within his distant wigwam, sure escape 

From molestation ; yet his woe was deep. 

The paleface mission, warlike, rash, and rude. 

And mindless of presumption, finding not 

The chief of chiefs, with speed surprised and bound 

His own true son, brave Wonalancet, trained 

To ends discreet and aims of kind intent 

By his wise father, and with him indeed 

Was bound his gentle squaw, of guileless heart, 



40 THE SEER, 

And with them both the child of tender years, 

A hopeful son and fair, who knew no harm 

That bore a purpose baneful unto aught 

Of human mould ; and, clad in dismal plight, 

Such captives hastened to uncertain doom. 

Then Passaconnaway, the injured sire 

Of a loved household, he who sought but good 

For those who gave him pain and tried his soul, 

Though master of a host of vengeful braves. 

In prudence bore resentment. Mindful e'er 

Of gross injustice, he the nobler code 

Of right attested. Royal chief of tribes. 

He straight his charge preferred, and justice urged. 

And reparation claimed, until his words. 

In perseverance strong, had shown his cause 

Triumphant ; and his own he took again 

To his full heart, and blessed, with pride and tears.*^ 

The world of purpose strict and action prompt 

Evinces e'er the force concentric, swift 

To prove the worth that dwells within a soul 

Whose will, and thought, and energy combine 

In phase and fact in separate, the man 

In singleness intrenched in virtue strong, 

And sure, and sapient of ends complete 

And competent in wisdom's sphere and range. 

Great Passaconnaway, the chief of chiefs, 



THE SEER. 41 

In contemplation of the measures vast, 

Urged by the Spirit of the boundless world, 

Within his scheme to hold the paleface prince 

And promise of the days yet kept in store 

For his rude, simple children of the wild, 

The prospect owned, and to his hope gave pledge 

Of his whole being ; and, with honest heart. 

And humble mind, and words of import wise. 

Low at the feet of English prestige proud. 

He cast the burden of his keen concern 

And thus made suppliance with earnest mien : 

" I come. Chief Winthrop, from the savage wild. 

Where the wolf howls, the eagle screams, and earth 

In fear and startled air e'er yield the voice 

Of fierce destruction wasting. . In my tribes. 

That thrill with madness, of resentment bred 

In their fierce haunts, the flame exulting burns 

Of the destroyer. I have seen how he. 

The wise Great Spirit of the world so wide. 

To you gives knowledge and the skill that proves 

Of life the greater safety, though ye raise 

The hand that strikes the harder, when ye turn 

Your face upon your foes and battle make 

So ripe with death and deep with flowing blood. 

I come, O paleface chief, as one who looks 

Across the boundless sea, when for the sun 

Of happy morn he waits, the light to shine 



42 



42 . THE SEER, 

On his dark path and show the homeward way 
To rest and comfort of his soul that tires. 
Take me and mine, and in your purpose vast 
Let us have part, that we may life preserve 
And plenty find, the while we learn and prove 
That all our good is yours, as rivers run 
Together till their waters poured in one 
Rush with resistless speed to find the sea, 
And in the deep, wide ocean live for aye. 
I speak to you and all my sons through me 
Speak as I do : then give us all your heart ! " *'^ 

In mission wise, sincere, and firm emprise, 
The great Bashaba of his zeal found grace. 
Reward, and peace, and in his sovran state. 
Of English law the subject, lived and thrived. 

Interlude. 

f HIS is my offering ; my breast, 
Its zeal surcharged, invoked some art, 
Blithe offspring of a transport blest, 

But thou hast touched and tried my heart. 



With ceaseless throbbing of the brain, 
Its thought too vast, of mission kind, 

My instincts craved a glad refrain, 

But thou hast probed and plagued my mind, 



THE SEER. 43 

Sweet presence troubling ! This my lay, 

Its theme so swift yet half unsung, 
A voice besought of accents gay. 

But thou hast foiled and filched my tongue. 

Thus shall my rapture droop and faint, 

Its glow all pale, for grief has stole 
My joy, and loss will weave its plaint 

Till thou hast loved and loosed my soul. 



|HE thought of prudent man embraces skill 
Of aim and action in the sphere of life 
That mundane v^elfare fosters, and it guides 
The footsteps of lithe progress to the goal 
Of expectation fair in triumph just 
And joyful, till the land in measure rich 
Finds safety, v^ealth, and honor : yet there spring 
From depths of yearning in the human breast 
The needs, the wants, the crying wishes swift. 
That plead — for exigencies timeless, vast 
In soulful scope — the boundless worth and work 
That soothes deep sorrow's heart and, faithful, proves 
The wisdom of this transient, glozing world 
But foolishness — so poor, so weak, so vain ! 
Anon and e'er some man of mighty strength 
In earth's oft counsels of the hour and end, 
Auspicious or portentous, zest and zeal, 



44 THE SEER. 

In contemplation of some aspect grave 

Of dread futurity, in feeblest state 

Lays down. The chief, great Passaconnaway, 

Of instincts common unto flesh and blood, 

But human in the function of a man. 

This truth found evident and lent his soul 

To search for wisdom of the world unwon. 

One day, this wise Bashaba, subject true 

Of English royalty in safer rule. 

Met a great wonder. To his ear had come 

The oft repeated fame of him who bore 

The message of a Monarch, greater still 

Than earth's chief potentate, while on his lips 

Dwelt fate unchangeable, for he was son 

And servant of his Lord and Master, high 

In majesty resistless, endless, fierce : 

And Passaconnaway the import held 

In consternation, lest, a powwow, rare 

And ruthless, vengeance taking sure and swift 

Of mighty medicine on rival foes 

Presumptuous, drew near to strike with doom 

And death despairing, and seclusion sought 

And trembled, yet his better, unseen lot 

Awaited. In time's full and fair decree. 

On mission at Pentucket, face to face, 

He gazed upon the emissary strange 

Of a still stranger Chief— and looked in vain 



THE SEER. 45 

To see his weapons sharp, and felt no mist 
Of dullness o'er his startled senses steal, 
And, for expected darkling wrath, his face 
Beheld benign, while, through its tender smiles. 
Broke words of gentleness, assuring, sweet. 
For speech anticipated harsh with scorn. 
And grasped his hand, unmoved in action dire 
To aught directed — and his spirit thrilled. 
Astonished that such worth in high emprise . 
Should mien so lowly bear and life so meek.**^ 

Suns rose and fell, moons waxed amain and waned, 

A year fulfilled its course and told complete 

Its tale of varied seasons and the change 

That ever life holds subject, and the mind 

Of Passaconnaway, of musing thought 

In deeper contemplation, dwelt within 

On hasting days and time's approaching goal 

Of swift transition to the unseen realm 

Of the hereafter, till he inly craved 

Some full assurance of some entrance fair 

Within some sphere of spirit, soul and sense 

In strict integrity, when present scenes 

Had vanished, and the past had laid in store 

All their fond excellence and treasure dear. 

Shorn of their future prospects e'er and aye : 

And thinking thus his soul found cheerful light 



46 THE SEER. 

And pleasant comfort. While again he sought 

Some end of regal service to his tribes, 

He southward journeyed, and the stranger rare — 

The paleface powwow high, and yet so low 

In his demeanor — once again his soul 

Accosted, and his hand put forth in peace 

And pledge of friendship, and an ear besought 

For speech of consolation for time's woes. 

And life's dull doubts, and fears that ever haunt 

Reflection mindless of eternal hopes 

And endless joys that of God's goodness take 

Their sure fruition ; and Bashaba, chief 

Of mighty savage sway, and skilled in lore 

Of wisdom barbarous, sat lowly down. 

And with his chosen braves of counsel true. 

In silence listened, and the powwow pale. 

The pious Eliot, apostle sent 

Of Lord Messiah, thus his message gave : 

^^ Dear brothers of the wild, I here uphold 
The Word Omnipotent. He whom I serve — 
The Lord from Everlasting — bids me speak 
Your peace and profit, for, the time at hand 
Of his approaching kingdom, ye have need 
Of his blest comfort of the life that is. 
And that which is to come, when death shall close 
Your present pilgrimage on time's bleak shores. 



THE SEER. 47 

Within my hand behold the pledge he gives — 

The Lord Almighty — of his holy will 

And wish complacent to his children dear, 

Of whom are we, created by his hand. 

And, by his bounty of the land and sea. 

Preserved from day to day and fitly framed 

For his true service. Let me read, I pray. 

From this — the Holy Book, his own true word — 

That ye may know his counsel. Thus he says : 

From the bright rising of the eastern sun 

Until its going down to western dark, 

My name shall mighty be among the tribes— 

The scattered Indians, and in each place 

Shall honored be with prayer full oft and pure ; 

For great my name shall be, saith he, the Lord 

Of hosts, among the Indians, ^'^ To you 

Comes such announcement. May ye rightly mark 

Its potent meaning ! As the sun that burns 

In the blue sky with sweeping luster lights 

Earth's farthest bound, the truth of God, my Chief, 

Shall fill the world till each dear child he owns 

Shall know his right to rule and of his grace 

Have sweet cognition. Of his promise vast. 

Are ye partakers. Keep your hearts in faith 

And holy pleasure ! Yet be doubly ware 

How ye esteem his favor ! He, the Lord, 

Seeks no vain homage of the world in pride, 



48 THE SEER. 

But, in soft penitence for evil done, 

And in the service of good deeds to come, 

He will have sacrifice of self and sin 

To win his face and prove his love benign. 

So take ye heed, my brothers, how ye bear 

His Name in honor, for it is a Name 

Not given to our flesh, but, treasure deep. 

Cast in our spirits, and which no one knows 

Save he who, it receiving, glows within 

With righteous fervor of the law fulfilled 

In his own nature, as for aye one feels 

His own heart beat and thus the fact divines 

Of his own being. This, God's holy Name, 

Once stablished in our souls, each heart remoulds 

And forms the likeness of his own till love. 

Warm and divine, replaces earth's cold hate, 

And, by the inward working of his will 

In man thus vivified, renews, exalts, 

And perfects all the being for the day 

Of our redemption, when, from sin escaped, 

And in the full exemption of the life 

Immortal, holy, happy, we shall stand 

Unblemished in God's sight, the image each 

Of his bright Son triumphant, of his right 

And worth eternal richly to partake 

In glory everlasting. Wherefore, I, 

His servant undeserving, ye beseech 



THE SEER. 49 

To hearken well and heed the message sure, 

And, putting off the filthy robes of guilt. 

Put on the robe of righteousness unfeigned, 

And, watchful unto faith, confess and pray 

To him with zeal unceasing, that he may 

On each bestow the Name above all names 

Which he ordains to be, and to be held 

In veneration, till each knee shall bow 

And every tongue confess its fame supreme 

From the far east e'en to the distant west 

Of this the boundless world, while from below 

Up to his throne exalted in the skies 

The proclamation of its honor swells. 

So may ye find escape in God's great day 

Which, now appointed, shall in perfect light 

Reveal the secret heart and purpose deep 

Of each before him summoned, and when he 

Shall judge his children by the standard true 

Of him who, Man and God, presents the type 

Of our salvation ; and the hapless soul 

That thrives not with the Name above all names 

Shall desolation find and dark despair. 

Cut off among its people, — from which end 

May God preserve ye ! Hear ye, and heed how ! '' 

Thus spoke the paleface powwow, while his voice 
Rose high in exhortation, and his words 



50 THE SEER. 

In supplication strongV for the quick sign 

Of their complacency of heart and mind 

Who listened ; and chief Passaconnaway 

And his wild braves, with solemn faces, heard 

The great monition, silent, thoughtful, stern. 

Then he, Bashaba wise, his soul awaked 

To contemplation of life's nobler theme, 

In honest speech responded : " All your words, 

O powwow of the Chief that rules the world. 

Come to my ear with good, and yet a new 

And strange thought in them to my soul reveals 

A wondrous meaning. From the early morn 

Of these, my days, when childhood roamed and 

played, 
Till now when I behold my noonday sun 
Glide to the west, I e'er have known and served 
The wise Great Spirit of my ancient sires, 
And of his word, well spoken to my mind. 
Have much direction found to soothe and cheer 
The prospect of life's journey. Yet withal 
Have I much care felt oft, and in my soul 
Seemed looking out as to some region vast, 
And far away across some ocean wide. 
Where rests the spirit of the brave that tires 
Of ceaseless tossing on life's restless waves 
Within its slight canoe, that floats and still 
E'er threatens soon to sink in blackness deep 



THE SEER. 51 

And hopeless, — though I never yet to pray 

Have once found purpose. But your words so strange, 

That crave the heart made new by worth within. 

To work alone the peace that lives and lasts 

In presence of the Manit, who will judge 

All work at last, move me indeed to pray 

And seek his favor : and my sons shall hear 

My thought and of its sure intent receive 

My counsel to observe and well pursue 

The prompt example. So may we indeed 

Have wisdom unto good for aye and aye ! 

Great friend, receive my promise and be sure 

Of my true tongue, and be you swift to come 

And dwell among us, so our lives may learn 

Of your direction in the path of right ; 

And that, within our midst, you oft may pray 

To the Great Spirit that no direful woes 

Such as you speak for those who heed not him 

Who gives the Name above all other names 

Shall come upon us. Speaking, I have done." 

Interlude. 

fHE thought flies east, the thought flies west, 
The land is broad where treasures be, 
But the heart still longs for a portion blest 
Over the silent sea. 
4 



52 THE SEER, 

A song breathes high, a song breathes low, 

Sweet music charms with varied key. 
But the ear still lists where the zephyrs blow 
Over the silent sea. 

The light gleams bright, the light gleams soft, 

Rich, blended hues adorn the lea. 
But the eye still peers for a luster oft 
Over the silent sea. 

The time gives work, the time gives rest. 

Diversion just tempts care to flee. 
But the soul still dreams of a boon expressed 
Over the silent sea. 

O life doth wound ! O life doth heal ! 
Conserving law binds you and me, 
But a love still yearns, as its fancies steal 
Over the silent sea. 



|HE bright sun lights the passive world in pride, 
But sinks and seeks the west to darkness own ; 
The lustrous moon illumes the sphere of night 
To drop and disappear, its lamp burned low ; 
The greater stars and lesser, one by one, 
The shaded dome embellish with their glints 
Of cheerful radiance, and then they glide 
E'en to their setting, and their feebler beams 



THE SEER, 53 

No more bear witness of the deathless day, 

In the far spaces of the boundless world, 

Beyond the circuit of the earth's proud eye 

And yet so impotent. Time in its flight 

Impetuous all brightness turns to dark 

In the dull vision of the world's crude thought, 

And sun, and moon, and stars, in the dim sight 

Of man's discernment in the pale of sense. 

Decline, and grope, and in the deep submerge 

Of doom and death, and nature's dark despair. 

Yet he who, gifted with a nobler heart 

And truer evidence of worth within, 

P'oresees the low horizon of his west. 

As down his sunset slope he swiftly glides. 

Courts his composure, and his wasting hours 

Still yields to service of kin, kith, and kind, 

The while anticipant of the last step 

That enters the abyss, his purpose grand. 

Thus Passaconnaway, the sachem high. 

Beheld the sun of his exalted day 

In haste declining to the western eve, 

To set forever to the world that waits 

But on appearance and illusion, vain, 

Yet e'er potential, in time's stubborn thought, 

To foster doubt, and dread, and dismal doom. 

Yet he, the wise Bashaba, with his face 

Turned to the night's dim curtain, soon to drop 



54 THE SEER. 

Across his life's late pathway, in full calm 

And confidence of soul, his purpose gave 

Still to his people and their profit vast. 

In fair example in the end that proves 

Man's true advantage in the sphere of time. 

The pledge and promise sure to high and low, 

He spurned rude, wild concerns, and in his thought 

Ignored all aims that on aspiring worth 

Impose but sorrow and relentless woe. 

One day, one solemn day, of counsel wise, 

Of wishes eminent for lasting good 

And happiness, prolonged in time's awards 

For his own people, Passaconnaway, 

The chief of chiefs, and mighty in emprise 

Of hopeful virtue to his tribes that leaned 

Upon his wisdom, in convention large, 

At oft Pentucket, met his chiefs and braves. 

And opened all his heart in words that thrilled 

Deep in their bosoms ; for he spoke as one 

Who last monition of earth's folly takes 

And, to the ears that list again no more 

His faithful word, transfers in tones of awe 

His warning. " Brothers, chiefs, and braves," he said, 

" In silence hear my speech, for I am old. 

And, like the sapless tree that casts its leaves, 

And in the autumn blast sways to its fall, 



THE SEER, 55 

I totter to the end that lays me low 

On earth's cold bosom. Ere the winds pass by 

And leave me lifeless on the damp, chill ground, 

I leave you this, my counsel. Ye have known 

How, ere the paleface came to spy the land, 

We held him foe and strove in vain to find 

The means of his prevention ; and, your chief 

And greater sachem, man of medicine. 

More famed than any other in the tribes 

That roam this region, I against him wrought 

My swift enchantments unto fruitless ends 

And wasted strength : ^^ and now he thrives to fill 

The world where once he strayed a lonely child 

And feeble stranger. Yet, for judgment lacked 

In our first thought, we now have wisdom lent 

For right direction in the path that leads 

Where dwells our safety. Mark the words I speak ! 

Bashaba, I have light than of the sun. 

And of the moon, and of the silent stars, 

More eminent. Within my spirit dwells 

The wisdom of the Manit, and he bids 

Me chide your folly that would oft inspire 

The deeds of dire destruction that return 

To blast the hearts that hasten to the heat 

Of rude, rash rage that seeks with zest to spoil 

The plan of the Great Spirit, who with might 

Resistless e'er fulfills his wish and work 



56 THE SEER. 

Through all the tumults of his children, fierce 

In their mad fury. In the paleface tribe, 

The Sachem of the world has shown us worth 

That claims our profit ; for the day has dawned 

That seeks our greater comfort of the wealth 

That, like sweet water from the mountain side, 

From nobler life and action springs to cheer 

The spirit thirsting for some purer zeal 

And truer purpose. By this truth ye oft 

Have my example tested. Ye have seen 

My purpose in the law that turns our feet 

From savage paths and leads us to the place 

Of fairer pleasure ; and ye know that erst 

I of the wise, good powwow sought a heart 

To come among us and his counsel give. 

To save our lives and peace until the day 

When the Great Spirit of the world at last 

Shall of each thought take notice, and no brave 

Shall e'er be able from his eye to hide 

In the thick darkness. Now, my chiefs and braves, 

My brothers all, in my last counsel, hear 

The message of the Manit. Strive ye not 

Against the English. From the sunrise land. 

Across the wide, deep water, come the braves 

With hearts of stone, and faces red with wrath. 

And weapons swift for blood, to crush the land 

That tempts the Manit's anger, when he lends 



THE SEER, 57 

His fury to displeasure. See the storm 

That from the sunset sky breaks from the heat, 

With mighty wind, and thunder long and loud. 

And lightning swift and sharp, and dashes down 

The tall trees of the wood, and all the field 

Lays waste with wild confusion of the strength 

Of stern destruction ! So will ye your peace 

And pride find desolate who seek to stay 

The arm of the Great Spirit. I have done. 

My sun goes down. My brightness seeks the shade. 

The deep, dark west drowns all the daylight dim." 

Interlude. 



N silent night, a slumber, deep, 

Lethean, chains the world ; on high 
The wakeful stars dumb vigils keep ; 
Earth's breast is faint to breathe a sigh. 

In sovran night, stern darkness bears 

The scepter ; then, with trembling flame, 

Each watchfire burns ; time's aspect wears 
A veil of awe, subdued and tame. 

In solemn night, beneath the dome. 
For dread concern, we fall and pray, — 

*' Sweet love-lights, guide our spirits home, 
Through crystal depths, to reahns of day!" 



58 THE SEER. 

iHE great Bashaba, man of many days,^^ 
Of chiefs the pride and glory of his braves, 
In quiet sought the solace of his age, 
And, in the comfort of the forest, field. 
And flowing fountain of the endless hills. 
Life's sunset watched till all the placid west 
Beamed with bright beauty in the mellow scene 
Of night approaching in the twilight fair ; 
Yet, of conception just of useful ends 
In time established, he example still 
Of fair advantage furnished to his brave 
Of prestige emulous. For civil rights. 
In bounds determined by the law that makes 
All social good established, firm and just, 
He made petition, being subject true 
And loyal of the state that English rule 
Made possible, for peace and plenty framed. 
Then the glad paleface chief, in zeal discreet. 
In presence of such judgment, free, and fraught 
With deep consideration, purpose rare, 
And prospect great, of welfare to the tribes 
Auspicious, lent his royal hand and seal 
To the right project, and Bashaba gave. 
Within the fertile vale of Merrimack, 
Of land a spacious tract — to east and west 
Three miles, and three to north and south — the stream 
The whole dividing, half on either side. 



THE SEER. 59 

While, in the bosom of the river bright, 

Lay two green islands, jewels rich and rare."*"^ 

Here Passaconnaway, once savage chief, 

But now a civil sachem, found his rest 

And ransom permanent, his manhood crowned. 

Within his wigwam rude, but still of home, 

In civil order fixed and aspect kind, 

The just expression, oft his tribal kin 

He gave swift welcome, and his wisdom made 

The profit of his sons, and sons of sons,^^ 

And of his braves, that oft an insight craved 

Of the great future, unto prudent ends 

And faithful aims devoted ; and betimes. 

When some deep fervor of his spirit rose 

To heights above earth's privilege but found 

Of subjects mortal, he monition urged 

And counsel gave of hints, and hopes, and helps 

That trend on things immortal, while his thought 

E'er fostered some great faith of instinct true 

And comprehension vast of life, and love, 

And lore unsearchable to sense that gropes 

But in the shadow of earth's fancy vain 

And time's forlorn despair, — though all his mind 

Was shrouded in the gloom that nature sheds 

In the crude soul barbaric. Then the last. 

Soft, smiling rays of sunset lingered low 

In the dim, far horizon, and he lay 



6o THE SEER 

Upon his couch of furs, and in his thought 

Still dwelt on worth that, wrought within. 

E'er lives, and thrives, and triumphs in the face 

Of death and dissolution ; while with zeal, 

Serene but firm, on lips that feebly broke 

The accents of his being, straight he bore 

The test of his exemption from time's care 

And terror's dark delusion. As he sank 

Fast to the curtained dark of twilight's close. 

Once o'er his features wan a strange concern 

Crept like a passing shade. In whispered tones, 

But earnest accents, great Bashaba said, 

" What means this tumult ? " Then attendants kind 

With haste replied, "A man of medicine 

Would ease your heart." "^^ Then he, Bashaba wise, 

From soulful depths responded, " Of his skill 

I need no comfort, since the Name I own 

Which is all medicine." A thoughtful brave 

Then explanation asked, and of the Name 

Mysterious craved knowledge ; for he would 

Die grandly when the nightly shadows fell 

Across the pathway of earth's daytime late. 

Then Passaconnaway, the sachem true. 

Breathed his last message to the world that wore 

The woe of his departure. " In his breast 

Who hears the Manit's voice," he softly said, 

"And heeds his counsel. Wisdom works to mould 



THE SEER, 6 1 

His being unto newness in the form 

Of the Great Spirit's Son, a Chief in life, 

And Sachem strong in death, and, like the sun. 

His own bright splendor, for his name is Light, 

And Light he is, and in his Light he lives 

To know no darkness. In this Light I walk 

Straight to the shadow which no shadow is 

Before the dawning in the endless day. 

Farewell ! I go ! The morn is in the east ! 

The stars go out ! The moon fades in the west ! 

The mighty Sun commands the boundless sky ! " 



POSTLUDE. 

1^ RIGHT Messenger of holy love, 
1^ Whose thought surveys this earthly scene, 
In mercy stooping like a dove 

Through paths of atmosphere serene, 
Our wisdom in obscure lines 

Perceives thy sacred, vast designs. 

This world is but a tiny space. 

Of avenues and measures less 
Than thy least gift requires to trace 

Its fullest art to lure and bless ; 
The bounties of thy free discharge 

Demand God's whole creation large. 



62 THE SEER, 

We catch but glimpses of thy smile 
And whispers of thy cheerful voice 

Who yet shall own thy face, the while 
We mingle in thy counsels choice, 

Fruition crowning hope, as we 

Shall gain thy ampler courts and thee. 



THE LAST POWWOW. 



PRELU DE 



I^HE heart doth yearn for purer zeal intense, 
' But when devotion swift doth often pour 
Earth's fullest cup, it weeps for love's expense 
That is no more. 

The fruitful mind doth delve for treasure rich. 
Yet longs for riches, for the world's emprise 
Yields not the gem of gems, truth's jewel which 
Still deeper lies. 

In present fields, life's patient hands the wheat 

Of harvest reap, but when the constant sun 
Sinks to the west, their rest is incomplete. 
Their work undone. 

So hope doth dream, and ever dreaming gains 
Its fondest pledge, that he who zest instills 
In the quick soul, where larger room obtains, 
Its ends fulfills. 



THE LAST POWWOW, 



iHE thoughtful mind that dwells on problems deep, 
And scans life's broad arena, where the hopes. 
The cares, the struggles, of men's hearts, involved 
In virtue's mazes or the chains of vice. 
Of strange causation contemplation oft 
Indulges; and, though scenes of lustrous pride 
Of nature's beauty tempt reflection light, 
The law's great theme of destiny profound 
Still oft compels the soul to aspects grave. 
And stirs impressions mighty in the man 
Who ponders on the aims that peace impart 
And safety promise in the sphere of time. 

Across the fertile vale of Merrimack, 

Where nestles by the stream the city fair. 

New Hampshire's regal seat,^ one looks and sees. 

With freshness, verdure, and with bloom bedight. 

The invitation lavish unto dreams. 

Illusive, sweet ; but then, perchance, he turns. 

In fancy's wandering through varied fields. 

And touches on the border-land of hints 

5 



68 THE LAST POWWOW. 

That into distance stray, to grasp the wish 
And worth that, in the restless, throbbing breasts 
Of ancient sachems ^ of the valley rich. 
Forecast in smiles or frowns eventful fate : 
And thus his muse grows solemn till he dwells 
Alone on hopes that were, and yet were not, 
In Wisdom's stern decree, time's test to try. 

It may have been, one day, one distant day, 

That old Pehaungun in his wigwam sat, 

Last of the Penacooks,^ and, in sad thought, 

Beheld the shining river and its vale 

Of smiling beauty ; and, in musing long 

On strength and pride departed of the tribe — 

His sires and brothers — that the land once claimed 

In prestige undisputed, with his face 

All dark with doubt and heaviness of heart. 

He haply craved within his heaving breast 

Some meed of cause in explanation found 

Of such despair and devastation wrought 

Upon his people, peerless, proud, but pressed 

To painful proneness of their prestige prompt. 

Their star just setting in the silver sheen 

Of the dim twilight. Here we skill invoke 

To tell a tale — as if Pehaungun lent 

An eager ear — and reason ripe disclose 

And profit pledge to him who hears and heeds. 



THE LAST POWWOW. 69 



W> 



Interlude. 
|HE rose, unfolding in a smile, 



When day has just begun, 
Yet grieves, her brightness less the while 
Than luster in the sun ; 

And when a lark, full glad to greet 
The morning, springs on high. 

He saddens that his flight, so fleet, 
Is still below the sky ; 

And I, in joy each early day, 

Muse with afliatus strong, 
Yet mourn that skill cannot portray 

My love, the queen of song. 

iHE dim, old days of ancient life and lore, 
Within the valley ever bright and fair, 
Evolve, in contemplation of the soul. 
The story of great fame and v^ondrous pride 
In puissance of honor. Ere the march 
Of civil progress, by the English wrought. 
Usurped the wide domain of waste and wild 
In high New Hampshire, here indeed was known 
Such wisdom in command of men and moods 
As ever admiration stirs in those 
Who mark great triumphs and approval give 



70 THE LAST POWWOW, 

To thoughtful excellence in rightful rule. 
The sachem wise, chief Passaconnaway,^ 
Of Penacooks the potentate supreme 
By law's inheritance, had roused the tribe 
To valor high and prestige far renowned. 
Of instincts prescient, of aims and ends 
Constructive in the sphere of royal sway. 
Of lofty motive urged, and grander scheme 
Made manifest, this savage sachem, rude, 
But still magnificent in noble mind. 
And mien, and purpose, many tribes had led 
To wise confederation, and they held 
Their rights and wishes common, save that he, 
Bashaba^ named, great Passaconnaway, 
Child of the Bear,^ was sovran lord of all, 
While Penacook was found, the pristine tribe. 
Of honor first, in name and fame elate. 

Thus ruled Bashaba, mighty prince and head 
Of tribes that told not less than four times four 
In thriving numbers, daring chiefs and braves. 
Each sannup with his squaw and children oft, 
A savage multitude that raged and roamed 
Far by the ocean strand and inland surged,"^ 
A host then countless,^ — and its strength was firm. 
Nor was such aspect prosperous the prize 
Alone of prowess in the field of war 



THE LAST POWWOW, 7 1 

And fearless conquest ; for, Bashaba, wise 

In ripe discernment of time's issues vast, 

Had counseled prudence in the sphere of thought 

And act administrative, peace esteemed 

And safety pleaded, with life's worth that trends 

On things supernal held in choice emprise 

Of potent strict assertion. He had said, — 

^' Be wise before the Manit, he who lives. 

Chief of our lives and days, and in the hearts 

Of his true braves works wisdom unto wish 

And worth beneficent ; and he in me, 

His spirit prompting mine, has made me clear 

To see your hope triumphant, or your fear 

In doom destructive, as you list my word 

Or close your ear and hold my counsel naught."^ 

Time's scenes have oft transition, and our days 
Oft wend to change that e'er of heart and mind 
Takes wiser counsel, and who haply lays 
His grasp on larger knowledge, for his guide 
Upon the path progressive, gains the prize 
Of noble emulation, and his soul 
Confirms in hope and prospect in the van 
Of life that prospers unto virtue's goal. 
The savage realm by Passaconnaway 
Held subject, in the sway of rarer zeal 
And richer zest of honor, in full test 



72 THE LAST POWWOW. 

Had privilege of profit, when the sun 

Of civil splendor in the social east 

Rose on its night, to light its gloom afar, 

And wake response in actions of the day, 

Born of the scheme redemptive of the souls 

That plodded but in ways of darkness wild. 

The English came, with art and science, bent 

On greater demonstration of the worth 

In social life potential, and — to crown 

The weal in time's ends possible — the faith 

And pledge of life eternal, in the sphere 

Of righteous merit, manifest to souls 

That longed for peace perpetual, when thought 

Revolved the world's vain promise. In the van 

Of the crude prospects of the savage mind, 

Such advent grew portentous in the dread 

Of sudden devastation in the ways 

And walks accustomed ; and, with swift emprise. 

Great fear all hearts assailed, and savage braves. 

To nameless prowess trained, in trembling mien 

The future held in contemplation grave. 

In such presentment of the time that tried 

The soul barbaric, Passaconnaway, 

Bashaba, chief of chiefs, and mighty man 

In counsel sage, but greater still in gifts 

That ends foresee beyond the shady bounds 

Of time and sense, but feeble in the sphere 



THE LAST POWWOW. 73 

Of truth's discernment, in his spirit rose 

Above the mists of doubt and, with the eye 

Of judgment prescient of grander aims 

Within the Manit's purpose, gave his heart 

To the great prospect, and his subjects urged 

To thoughts and acts prudential in the sphere 

Of wisdom provident of sense and soul. 

In faithful zeal, within the concourse great 

Of chiefs and braves, he made his urgent plea, 

And bore his attestation straight and strong. 

And said, " My chiefs and brothers, braves and friends, 

Give ear and hear my speech, for I am he 

Whose spirit talks with Manit, and I know 

The thing to come and see the prospect far 

Of your true safety. In the English cause 

Lies your hereafter. With the paleface strive 

No more in future. In his will, and work. 

And worship shall the redskin tribes obtain 

Their promise certain. Lo ! The Manit rides 

Upon the wind that fells the stoutest tree, 

And on the wave that sweeps the ocean shore 

And leaves naught that resists it. In the law 

And service of the time that daw^ns anew, 

Like sunshine in the east, let us behold 

Our patient peace and plenty till we come. 

Well and with joy, where rests the soul of care 

In life's true wigwam. With this counsel firm, 



^74 THE LAST POWWOW. 

Take my example. From the wild I turn 
To seek the fruit that from the fertile field 
I pluck with pleasure in the plan that proves 
The worth of wisdom. Thus shall all my days 
See sunshine soft and sweet, till in the west 
The daylight dies in darkness deep of death, 
Yet cast in calm, a sighless summer eve." ^ 
Thus great Bashaba spoke, and kept his word, 
And to the civil law of English mode, 
Adherence gave, and on his own estate. 
By line and scroll determined, kept his peace 
And nourished profit, till life's end the type 
Of manhood mild and meek, of virtue vast. 

Interlude. 

®THOU, of royal gifts, to me 
Earth's tokens, time's endowments choice, 
I gladden for thy grace, by thee 
In beauty's^excellence rejoice. 
Yet once I tune a cheerful lay 
For that which will not pass away. 

How subtly the presentment came, 
When first we met, as I beheld, 

With longing gaze, thy tender flame 
Of rising beams, that doubt dispelled, 

As hope descried each trembling ray 

And prayed it might not pass away. 



THE LAST TOWWOW. 75 

Now is my spirit still ; I reap 

The harvest of the boundless charms 
That deck thy maidenhood, but keep 

My soul intent on thine, which arms 
My steadfast heart, that dreams for aye 
Love lasts and cannot pass away. 



ETIMES a noble soul, in virtue's path, 
The standard of the truth in high emprise 
Holds up before the world, and, full of zeal 
For profit excellent and prospect wise. 
In thought impulsive, deems the triumph swift 
Of priceless rectitude, at once, at hand. 
And feasts his soul observant on the wealth 
Expectant in the promise of his dream. 
Cast in the realm ideal. This, a world. 
Of instinct sensuous, of passion wild, 
Of vain reflection selfish — in the moods 
Of mindless method in the sphere of dread 
Of true or false designs on pleasure dear 
Or privilege exemptive — slowly grasps 
The fact conservative of right and rule 
In Wisdom's work prudential. He who looks 
Beyond the present to the future day. 
Of ripe fruition of some grander scheme 
Of judgment popular, has sorest need 
Of patience puissant, endurant, long, 



76 THE LAST POWWOW, 

In his heart's travail for the worth he waits. 

Great Passaconnaway, the sachem rare, 

This theme attested in his own true soul 

And mind, anticipant of nobler aims 

And ends more eminent, within the bound 

Of the great circle social. His was hope 

That slight reward found certain, and his sun 

Went down the west, to shed its last, pale beams 

Upon a world still wasting wealth of will 

In wildest worthlessness. A purpose vile, 

In social friend or foe, in savage clan 

Or civil conclave, oft, in strife for gain 

And haste unhallowed, passion fierce enraged 

And fell destruction prompted ; and as e'er 

In contests dire of simple forces weak 

With energies compounded, staunch, and strong. 

The ranks of redmen shrank before the rush 

And rant of palefaced anger, skilled to bear 

The ardor more disastrous. Thus was fate 

Made unpropitious to the tribe that bore 

The name of Penacook, choice treasure found 

Of zeal in the Bashaba : yet the mind 

And instinct barbarous, in rash design 

For privilege delusive, set the snare 

Of liberty's own doom, and life's despair. 

And death's grim exultation in the face 

Of virtue horrified, the fiend of vice 



THE LAST POWWOW, 77 

Exalted without mercy. From the east, 

By civil transportation, came a foe. 

Dread occuwee,-^^ the liquid hot that burned 

The soul's own wigwam, while death's demons danced 

Within the lurid light, and howled in glee 

Of frantic furor, till damnation's glare 

And dizzy whirling drew all subjects in 

And down to one deep vortex, hopeless, huge. 

Such things Bashaba saw and inly grieved. 

The cause and course that consummation seek 

On the sad road to ruin fail not oft 

Of counsel provident of worth exposed 

And weal endangered. In the highway rash 

Oft stands a monitor, of aspect firm. 

And word emphatic, but with zest that bears 

The burden of the bane that follows fast 

Upon the track of each whom folly leads 

To the sure goal destructive. Thus a chief, 

Tahanto,^^ wise and prudent, while the blood 

Of tribal royalty within his veins 

Coursed freely, strove in vain with zeal to stay 

The march infernal, moved by occuwee. 

And cried, " Pour out ! Pour out ! The ground may 

take 
The drink that makes us devils, all as one 
Bent on bad deeds of doom to friend or foe ! " ^^ 



78 THE LAST FOWWOW. 

Nor did example swift in projects wise, 

Borne by the chief of chiefs, full oft to praise 

Inviting choice expression, lack its meed 

Of faithful emulation, when the tide 

Of dark events surged downward. There was one, 

A chief indeed, brave Wonalancet, son 

Of Passaconnaway, an offspring true 

Of the great, good Bashaba, and he gave 

His heart to wisdom and his soul to peace, 

And sure salvation of his people sought. 

Himself in regal power. Once he heard 

The great apostle to the redmen sent — 

The pious Eliot — and felt the flow 

Of ferventness divine within his breast 

Move, melt, and mould his spirit in the form 

Of the Almighty Son, w^ho lives, and loves, 

And in the end makes happy all the man, 

In gentle mien recast, and yet of skill 

To prosper unto virtue more and more 

In the true life eternal.^^ Then great war, 

With furor fierce for blood, and dark with death. 

The whole land menaced, while full oft its strokes 

Laid low the innocent, or near, or far, 

The thrifty home made desolate, the tribes, 

Urged by great Philip, seeking endless woe 

In full destruction for the paleface bands 

Wherever clustered : ^* and the son and chief. 



THE LAST POWWOW. 79 

True Wonalancet, freed from vengeance quick, 

And prescient of prudence, like his sire. 

His warriors swift withdrew from tempting haunts. 

And, in recesses deeper of the wild. 

Where mountains reared their heads in silent thought. 

And babbling streams in peaceful accents talked. 

And lisping leaves in tones of pity sighed. 

He watched the w^ar-clouds distant, ere the storm 

Broke clear, and sunshine cast its cheerful rays 

Far on the landscape of a thankful world. 

From the dark tempest rescued. Then he came 

Forth from the wilderness, in mercy's strength 

To render deeds of gladness to the heart 

That hung on horror's fate, while yet the land 

Beheld some burden of the strife that e'er 

PYom time to time clashed foes and victims found, 

Or civil, or barbaric. ^^ English law 

Held sway at fair Cocheco.^^ Thither went 

Wise Wonalancet and submission made 

To civil order, and to judgment, wrought 

Of wider prescience of use and weal. 

Looked for redemption of his time and tribe. 

His purpose true his act gave sure attest. 

And when, with rash conceit of vengeance vain, 

A band of thoughtless braves a mother kind 

And five fair children — widow clad in weeds 

And offspring piteous — of English blood. 



8o THE LAST POWWOW, 

Held in fierce bondage and to death consigned, 

The angry flames to feed on guileless flesh 

Already burning, Wonalancet came 

With glad salvation, and their safety made 

Both sure and sudden, and to civil heart 

And savage sense made worth and wisdom clear.^"^ 

Yet madness ruled the tribe, and hopes and aims 

Redemptive in the few had weak emprise. 



Interlude. 

E leave thee with the silent past, 
Responsive to no present call ; 
Thy rarest pleasures could not last, 
Thy gifts are shrouded with a pall : 
O sere old days, 
O sad old days. 
Thy spring became untimely fall ! 

Within thy trusted hands were laid 

The pledges of our cares discreet ; 
The sacred debt ye never paid. 

Thine was a staff, nor sure, nor feat : 
O weak old days, 
O wan old days. 
Thy chaff disclosed no promised wheat ! 



THE LAST POWWOW. 8 1 

Proud hopes, resplendent as elate, 

Were of thy sweet assurance born ; 
Ye read no true decrees of fate 

And broke our tender hearts forlorn : 
O dull old days, 
O dead old days, 
Thine is the night that knows no morn ! 



JHE world is witness oft of sudden change 
In things administrative, as when one 
To some one other yields the regal palm 
And scepter, and preeminence resigns, 
In sequence unavoidable in life 
And lot uncertain. In the march of time. 
The royal tribe of Penacook oft found 
A sachem subsequent to sachem proud. 
And saw in sway transition — hapless when 
The worse for better rule, in days that merged 
On degradation, sped still faster on 
The fell events that crown a dark despair 
Of ends and aims of aspiration high. 
Wise Wonalancet in his turn gave o'er 
The chieftain's precedence,^^ and fortune ill 
Bore witness of disaster in the moods 
Of him succeeding. Kancamaugus, vain 
In base ambition, on delusion bent 
In vile conspiracy, the tribe drew on 



82 THE LAST POWWOW. 

In the wild path of folly till its course 

Far to the dismal west of deadly doom 

In woe proceeded.-^^ In Cocheco town, 

In false security, the aged chief 

Of English arms, gray Waldron, in his hold 

Of fancied strength, resided, and reposed. 

And justice executed, yet withal 

He bore the mien complacent when a brave 

Or squaw sought shelter of his kindly roof 

Within his fortress, of the day or night 

A wearied guest with welcome unto rest 

And rich refreshment to the savage soul. 

To civil comforts stranger. Thus was he. 

The English chief, to apprehension blind. 

When earth's last woe beset him, snared, betrayed.-^ 

A summer eve grew dim, and two mild squaws 

Besought his shelter, and he gave them cheer 

And favor generous ; and as the hour 

Sped to the night full dark, the guests, in thought 

Of their great host's conception of his peace 

And safe precaution, spoke and lightly said, — 

" What if the Indians, the braves estranged,^^ 

Should come to-night ? " Then he, with zeal intense 

And flushing cheek, declared, — "A hundred men 

As brave as breathe the air would hear my word, 

And spring with vengeance on the reckless foe, 

And smite him without mercy, till he fell 



THE LAST POWWOW. 83 

In the deep, bloody pit his madness made 

For his own danger deadly ! '' ^^ Then the night 

Its darkest curtain drew, and all was still. 

Yet so with dire foreboding. In the dark. 

The faithless squaws, in league with braves alert 

For sharp revenge for wrongs, or true, or false,'^^ 

Arose and stealthily the door unbarred 

And gave the foe admission. Old and gray. 

The English chieftain, roused from sleep profound. 

Of swift defence took counsel, and his sword 

He wielded in defiance till he drove 

The wild assailants close upon the door 

Of their departure from the fortress strong ; 

He then recoiling for an arm more sure 

In death's quick dealing, forth upon him sprung 

The savage victors, who their angry taunt — 

" Who now shall judge the Indians ? " ^* — enforced 

With fierce resentment till his streaming blood 

Paid forfeit of their fury. Rudely bound 

And helpless in his chair, the hoary chief 

The cruel fiends upon a table placed 

In mocking state, and, passing one by one, 

Each brave his knife drew twice across his flesh 

And said, " Thus my accounts I now cross out ! " 

Till, with infernal mutilation scarred, 

The paleface warrior, bleeding, drooped, and died, 

His spirit fleeing from the clay inthralled 



84 THE LAST POWWOW. 

In dreadful, dumb despair. With rage beset 

On fell destruction far, the restless braves 

Their bloody vengeance plied till all the town, 

In horror of distress, its witness bore 

To the great tragedy, as matrons, maids. 

And men of sterner mould, with children clad 

In mourning mien too somber for their age, 

Wept for their losses, and their hearts consigned 

To grief too deep for words, and in the walks 

Of sorrow bowed in heaviness, their tears 

In silence coursing down their pallid cheeks.^^ 

Such madness, conversant of rash designs 

In wildest execution, on the tribe 

That in its purpose mingled cast a gloom 

Rebuking and suspicious, and its ranks. 

Once full and fair, in doubt, and dread, and doom. 

Fast shrank away, to far dispersion urged 

Among the savage circles of the north,^^ 

The fame of Penacook, once bright, now merged 

In creeping shades oblivious of night. 

Interlude. 

§THE morn is fair in the sunlight's glare I 
Swift pleasures glide as the swallows fly, 
And a heart says once, through a face most rare, 
Good-day and then good-bye. 



THE LAST POWWOW, 85 

O the day is bright in the noontide's height ! 

Sweet blossoms smile though the breezes sigh, 
And a heart is sad, in the sparkling light 
Good-day, for dull good-bye. 

O the daylight glows at the evening's close ! 

Rich hues exult if the leaves but die. 
And a heart is glad for the end that knows 
Good-day but not good-bye. 



iHE aspects of our moral life are cast 
In moods reciprocative, though its strength 
May lapse to weakness. On the shores of time, 
The ocean waves break high and then return, 
To break again, with ardor, though the tide 
Still ebbs with force far to the deep abyss 
Of the dark waters. Though the name, and fame, 
And puissance of Penacook swept fast 
To the dim distance of the thoughts of men 
In themes historic skillful, yet was worth 
Not in one surge of fortune's ebbing tide 
Engulfed, to sight extinguished. In the days 
That saw the slow decline, full oft some zeal 
Of nobler instinct in the redman's soul 
This truth attested. White men ^"^ once — a scout — ■ 
On future weal intent, the land to spy. 
Came to the township new, which English law 



86 THE LAST POWWOW. 

Had fixed at Penacook ^^ for settlers true, 

To civil ends devoted, and they craved 

A sojourn for the winter in the place 

Where yet should be plantations, full of life, 

And thrift, and fair prosperity, the arts 

Of peace triumphant in the patient toil 

Of manhood virtuous, and wise, and kind. 

The strangers lingered, but when wintry storms 

And tempests unpropitious had their hearts 

Discomfited with want and sadness wan. 

They drooped in peril of their case forlorn. 

Death on them staring. Then the redmen — few 

And scattered fragments of the once great tribe 

Of royal Penacooks — their spirits moved 

To pity for sad lack, the white men gave 

A portion of their plenty and made glad 

The soul of sore privation. Thus a touch 

Of friendship, that the whole world's kinship proves^ 

In degradation deep expressed the good 

That lives when fate with face averted frowns. 

True virtue wins approval, though its spark 
Burns feebly in the soul, when conscience, weakj 
In limping aspect falters, and the man 
Upon life's highway gropes in moral moods 
That e'er forebode the consummation dark 
Of bright worth's obscuration, In the day 



THE LAST POWWOW. 87 

Of civil culture, dawning on the wild 

Of ancient Penacook, there flamed the zeal — 

In faithful ardor of the heart, enshrined 

In holy impulse, of ambition sped 

By purpose consecrated, and to acts 

Of humbleness devoted unto peace 

That the world's pleasure passes — patiently 

To win the soul barbaric, and the faint, 

Slight worth invite to wisdom. In the band 

Of English settlers came the priest of God — 

The pious Walker ^^ — and his love benign 

Warmed to the Indian whose heart might burn 

With love's returning fire of Goodness caught 

And grace renewed in never ending glow. 

The holy man the pious thought instilled, 

And roused intention godly, and the mind 

To wisdom's uses pointed, while his faith 

He fain attested by his works sincere, 

To admonition equal ; and he gave 

Oft pledges of his word, and to the tribe. 

In strength declining, showed fraternal mood 

And kindly mien, and to his hearth bespoke 

The social welcome, while his presence oft 

The wigwam cheered with sweet and sacred light 

That beamed like soft effulgence of the rays 

That break from Heaven's sun on summits high 

Of God's eternal mountains, when the clouds, 



88 THE LAST POWWOW. 

With slight disparting, let the brightness through. 

Yet condescension more his purpose proved 

Of confidential fervor, as his son, 

A stripling young and tender,^^ oft he lent 

To light the redman's camp with luster choice 

Of innocence and joy, to be in pride 

Of childish fancy decked with feathers rare, 

And thus returned, a paleface sachem, small 

But filled with gladness of the spirit cast 

In childhood rapt, great glory's guise assumed. 

A soul may stem though it may never stay 

The tide that surges to the sure extreme 

Of life's wild waves reactive. Though the priest. 

In pious prudence, unto virtue urged 

The Penacooks, declining in their might 

And manhood, still the tide that, swelling, bore 

Upon its height no destiny sublime 

Within the grasp of mortals, swept its prey 

On to extinction in the goal of time, 

To leave no trail, or trace, or track behind. 

The redman's pride departed till the chief. 

Ignoble sachem, for base occuwee, 

The bad fire-water, e'en his rights conveyed 

To the shrewd paleface, who his gain invoked 

In his weak rival's passion. Thus the grace 

Of sachems proud, from great Bashaba wise 



THE LAST POWWOW, 89 

To Wattanummon^^ foolish, waned and fled 

In fateful degradation. Sad truth tells 

The doleful tale. One shining, summer day. 

Stout Ebenezer Eastman,^^ with his scythe, 

Would fain a meadow^^ mow ; and when his skill 

The thrifty verdure laid in swiftness low. 

The chief depraved came forth, and swung his arms, 

And cried, " My grass ! My grass ! No cut ! No cut ! " 

But when calm Eastman poured in keen design 

And gave the sachem drink to soothe his blame, 

The chief's resentment softened with the flow 

Of light, good nature, in his spirit stirred 

By occuwee, till once again he spoke 

With voice emphatic, spreading forth his hands. 

And said, ^'Your grass! Your grass! You cut! You 

cut !" 
Thus Eastman purchased freely, day by day. 
The field's wild bounty and his wealth increased. 

Yet honor saw a deeper shade of gloom. 
The instinct virtuous, that each to each 
Makes pure and peaceful in the sacred walks 
Of love domestic, falters not, nor fails. 
In the true soul of man. The subtle snare. 
The unseen blow, the theft of treasure choice 
Of the fond heart's devotion, spring not forth 
Save from the spirit craven in the zeal 



pO THE LAST POWWOW. 

Of passion devilish of reason damned. 

Not oft indeed in savage life has lust 

Such vile fruition. Yet what mind forecasts 

What depth depraved some sinking soul may find, 

The social frame corrupted ? Let this tale 

In brief rehearse the story. In a day, 

A luckless shadow gloomed across the path 

Of a crude sachem^* of the hapless tribe 

Whose sorrovv^s prompt recital. To his home. 

In a fell hour unguarded, came the foe — 

A brave degraded — and his squaw induced 

To faithless flight unholy. Up the stream — 

The pleasant Merrimack — the culprits took 

Their stealthy way till, on a verdant isle,^^ 

They sought the shelter of the sinful night. 

Awaiting morn's still farther transit, found 

Of daring fault upon the friendly way 

Of the deep wild to north. The sachem wronged. 

Yet vengeful, swiftly up the stream pursued 

The guilty pair, and near their foul retreat 

Their soon emergence watched ; and when they took 

Again their swift canoe, full well to speed 

Their flight still onward, then his gun's good aim 

Their double death decided. In the waves. 

Their breathless forms sank deep till vision lost 

Each dank, doomed trace sepulchral, till one day. 

Lodged halfway home, in ghastly plight and pale, 



THE LAST POWWOW. 9I 

Upon the verdant bank the dead squaw lay, 
Where designation still narration oft 
Revives in fame unhallowed, shameful, sad.^^ 



Interlude. . 

jIHERE is a morn more east than east: 
® The thrill of bright, pure love that springs 
Out of the dawn of gladsome things, 
So like a bird on buoyant wings, 
Floats on the morn more east than east. 

There is a glow more south than south : 
The ardor of the thankful heart 
That bears in virtue's sphere its jDart, 
Evolved like bloom in lustrous art. 

Flames from the glow more south than south, 

There is a chill more north than north : 
The dismal shiver in the blast 
Of conscience o'er a barren past. 
As shrinks the startled fawn, aghast, 

Is of the chill more north than north. 

There is a night more west than west : 
The flight that grovels in the dark 
Of life bereft of honor's spark. 
The foe's despair, unsheltered, stark. 

Gropes to the night more west than west. 



92 THE LAST POWWOW, 

|HE sad narration falters to its close, 
And little lore now lingers to express 
The low descending climax of the tale 
That ends in wretchedness of will and work 
In the lost tribe degraded. Yet as turns 
The story to the verge and solemn bound 
Of its relation dolorous, what change, 
In sudden mood, affects and blanches pale 
The face of brave Pehaungun, listing long 
The slow recital ? Old,^"^ and weak, and wan, 
He bears the burden of the woes that fill 
His tribe's regretful history, and feels 
The feeble props of life declining yield 
Beneath their load too weighty. In the pain. 
That wounds his heart, and in his shrouded mind 
Throbs unto misery intense and deep. 
His spirit seeks transition, and its flight 
To the unseen hereafter claims at length 
In silent resignation, doleful, dumb. 
His eyelids droop, his breath fails, short and faint. 
His form sways helplessly, and at the last 
The earth's cold bosom takes his prostrate length, 
In aspect lifeless. ^^ To his wigwam come 
The scattered remnants of his clan, to raise 
The dismal wail, and rites sepulchral give 
Their dead companion, brother, friend, and brave. 
Of their own blood partaker, Of a tree — 



THE LAST POWWOW. 93 

The forest pine full large — a section long 
Becomes a rude, rough coffin, to the core 
By fire persistent hollowed — or the space 
The blunt, stone chisel renders free to hold 
The soulless form within — while, for a lid, 
The bark proves full enclosure. Then a grave. 
Deep in the ground by excavation made. 
Receives the tribute of death's dismal doom. 
The savage sannups, mindless of the scenes 
That calm solemnity of nobler souls 
Claim ever in the sphere of virtue tried 
By fate resistless, lend their hearts profane 
To madness weird and wild, and to the sky 
Send up loud cries infernal, as they tramp 
The damp earth down upon the dead man's breast, 
And shout aloud, " He no get out ! " till oft 
''- He no get out ! " the welkin far resounds. 
Nor does distraction base in deathstruck minds 
Cease its wild tumult when, by earth enclosed. 
The helpless form assumes its endless rest 
In the dread pit eternal. Still they keep 
Their fierce carousal, and when day to night 
Turns black, with shadows, all the darkness deep 
Strange horror haunts with hellish howling, heard 
In the far distance, till strong occuwee 
The reckless riot turns to deathlike sleep 
Upon the senseless ground ; and all are still 
Till outraged nature wakes in shame full sore. 



94 THE LAST POWWOW, 



Interlude. 

WITHIN my quiet chamber, where 
Composure kind enchantment brings, 
For restless grief, I oft repair 
And listen to a hope that sings. 

There life's pulsation softly beats, 
As subject to a strict command, 

And calmly thought in guise entreats 
A message from a far-off land. 

Then, while the zephyr lightly plays 
To voices of the distant years, 

A promise hymns of coming days 

And melts my passive soul that hears. 

Swift moments flee ; I rise and go. 
With pearly drops my eyelids hung. 

Nor cause divine ; I only know 

My heart is full ; sweet hope has sung. 



JHOUGH old and sad Pehaungun lists no more 
The rueful tale of prestige lost and gone, 
In fancy's light conceit, the thought of time, 
In witness of the dim events of eld. 
When Penacooks, in degradation low, 
Held scarce a foothold of their ancient realm. 



THE LAST POWWOW. 95 

Turns to the fitful, fateful, closing scene 
Of the stern tragedy this volume bears 
To future kind remembrance of the years. 
In the vast scheme composite of the world, 
And earthly incidents in time involved, 
Some co-relation e'er all facts attest, 
Appendent to, dependent on, and bound 
By law each to each other. In the course 
Of life that far ascends in social ways, 
Or equally descends in paths convened 
Of things associated, good with good. 
Or ill with ill, is manifested e'er 
In each department common. Thus to live. 
Or die, together, all our gifts, and moods. 
And customs hold involved the end 
That each proves worthy, or unworthy shows 
Each in itself and fragment of a whole 
Corrupted. This, the truth emphatic, bore 
Its own swift witness in the waning day 
Of shining honor in the tribe that knew 
The great name Penacook in cherished pride.- 
In such reflections cast, narration bears 
In these fast closing lines, description true 
Of The Last Powwow, when the remnants few 
Of the proud tribe — whose fame in ancient lore- 
Still fills the land where Penacooks of eld 
Pound vast prosperity, but still to pine 



g6 THE LAST POWWOW. 

In poverty disastrous — met once more 

For aye in mad convention on the soil 

Their great forefathers trod and made the scene 

Of wisdom's oft safe counsels. In the days, 

Far distant, when the savage braves upheld 

In honor lofty sages — powwows,^^ deep 

In knowledge weighty, and of insight keen 

In things mysterious to common ken, 

And wise to caution or encourage zest 

Of deeds impetuous — time's courses ran 

To prospects profitable in the sphere 

Of life's sublimer action. Then, for aims 

And uses excellent, when braves convened 

In moods deliberative, there were found. 

In faultless eminence, the powwows, good 

And grave, to challenge fate, and give the charge 

To prudent ends directing : and when zeal, 

In themes exalted, raised their spirits high 

In noble ecstacy — till conscience grasped 

The truth far reaching, and, in flaming speech 

Of eloquence unfeigned, the gifted tongue 

Proved all its potency to stem or stay 

The flood of hasty passion — to impart 

Their fervor to their fellows, then the name, 

In swift transfusion with the spirit fired. 

From few transferred to many, in the bond 

Of fellowship united, thrilled within 



THE LAST POWWOW. 97 

The whole assembly, which in fact became 

And appellation powwow. Thus the man 

Gives to the mass his title, e'en as Christ, 

The name preeminent, in spirit lives 

Within all saintly Christians. Yet will f ate '^ 



Its strange transitions urge lull ott in names. 

Nor less full oft in meanings. In the depth 

Of degradation in its foul foray 

Upon the plain of passion, soon the tribe 

Of Penacook the import sunk in shame 

Of powwow, word exalted — name, and act 

In full supremacy of noble zeal 

In minds concerted unto ends discreet ; 

And, counsel turned carousal, then the zest 

And ardor of the spirit, in the glow 

Of rapt sincerity, no longer roused 

Slow manhood virtuous, but, in its stead, 

Fierce furor flamed with blasting breath that burned 

To the soul's core and scorched with anguish keen 

The helpless heart, by occuwee enchained. 

The sun of day was hasting to the eve 
When fifty braves in name, but yet in state 
Impuissant of will that courage takes 
In peril of vain passion, concourse held 
Upon the banks of Horseshoe,^^ there to lend 
Their souls and bodies to the revels foul 



98 THE LAST POWWOW, 

Of a great powwow — frenzy hot and fierce 

By fateful occuwee, the water charged 

With baneful fire of force infernal fed. 

With arms and much array of warlike guise, 

The riot huge foreseen, with speed they made 

Demonic preparation, save that then 

An instinct still potential of the man. 

Debased and yet susceptible of good. 

Stirred in their savage bosoms. To the east, 

A few steps distant, stood the peaceful home 

Of wise and pious Walker, he whose heart 

Had oft to souls barbaric yearned with love. 

Expressed in actions kindly. All alone. 

His fond wife bore the terror of the deeds 

Prospective held by savages in vogue 

In the long night of horror. Thoughtful once. 

The reckless redskins, counsel taking, said, 

"The good man's squaw will break her heart with 

fear 
When the loud powwow fills her ear, and she 
Shall think upon great danger. Let us go 
Straight to her wigwam strong, and all our bows. 
And arrows, knives, and guns, give to her hand 
In wise, safe keeping, till the powwow cease. 
That she may find her peace and rest till morn : 
And when again the good man to his home 
Comes smiling in good heart, he then will know 



THE LAST POWWOW, 99 

The redman loves his friend and will not hurt 
Or make afraid his squaw for wish his own." 
Thus to the house the thankful braves, in care, 
Of sacred friendship's peril, in the dread 
Of fiendish acts uncertain, went, their arms 
To the glad matron passing, for her cheer 
Of the brief, wild hereafter, in the rouse 
Of the impending furor, when their brains. 
With occuwee inflamed, hot madness ruled. 
Then to the Horseshoe's bank returning, there 
They loosed their zeal tempestive in the flow 
Of the bad water, save that one, for cause 
Protective, kept the skillful watch and ward 
Of soberness demanded in the maze 
Of mind intoxicated, ruthless, rash. 
The shrouded eve beheld the revel dark, 
The midnight black observed the horrid din, 
The rising morn o'erlooked confusion dumb, 
And when the day had stupor waked to sense, 
In partial measure potent, to their feet 
The fevered braves arose, and, all their arms 
In shamefaced mood assuming, turned their gaze 
Upon the wilderness with footsteps slow. 
The great. Last Powwow*^ ended, for no more 
The Penacooks, within the fertile vale 
Of Merrimack, mad concourse craved. 

7 



lOO THE LAST POWWOW. 

Interlude. 

fHE soul, to speak one sacred word, 
More true, pure, blest than all yet heard, 
Would leap and carol like a bird. 

Hard fate prevents that accent sweet. 

By some relation incomplete 

Of tongue, or ear, or both to meet. 

O life is wedded to a sigh ! 

The gift divine our lips doth fly 

Till time removes, when we shall die. 

(HE sun revolved to light the patient years ; 
The placid moon, each nightly sequence just, 
In motion annual, its mission proved 
In soft effulgence ; and the twinkling stars 
Serenely from the dome peeped forth and kept 
Their dimly faithful watch, when sun and moon 
Their faces veiled in shadows, as swift time 
Perennial its work alternate held 
In strict and true progression. Yet no more 
The once famed Penacooks in solemn mood. 
Or mien hilarious, convention found 
Within their ancient haunts, to counsel good, 
And rouse the spirit earnest for great deeds 
Of duty demonstrated, or to stir 



THE LAST POWWOW. lOI 

The passion purposeless to potent heat 

That wrought but doom delusive, worthless, wild. 

The scattered remnants of the royal clan — 

Once far predominant — their pathways took 

To wide dispersion in the wasting ranks 

Of tribes fraternal in the blood that ran 

In streams congenital from nameless eld. 

Then prestige faded dim, and weakly low 

Strength waned, and ardor lost its flame 

And blazed no more for lofty, proud emprise 

Of right and rule contested — fitful zest 

Of profit personal, in stealthy deeds 

Of cruel desolation, in the sphere 

Of service slavish, substituting zeal 

In nobler homage of the tribal state, 

Or cause confederated, tribe with tribe. 

Perchance anon for pelf some dusky scout. 

Forth from the nightly dark or forest shade. 

An English home assaulted, and weak age 

And helpless infancy in death's despair 

Laid low and bloody, while the youth and maid, 

The man and matron, in a woeful train. 

Were hastened to the north, the price to pay 

Of zest penurious, when friends, in grief 

And dread concern, their loved and lost should gain 

By ransom purchased, while the savage fiends 

The part but servile played, and to the French, 



I02 THE LAS 7^ POWWOW. 

At war with Englishmen, their lust allied. ^^ 

But pangs of internecine war no more 

The heart domestic rends with bloodstained woe 

In fair New Hampshire. Time was, long ago, 

When Englishmen and French their arms resigned 

And gave to peace their pleasure. Kindly aims 

And ends industrious the landscape bless 

With scenes of present bounty ; home, and mart. 

And mill, in oft relief of fertile green 

Far stretching, prove the worth exalted found 

In arts diversified within the vale 

Of Merrimack, the river by this theme 

And tale conspicuous. A countless throng 

Of souls their stations happy find within 

The peaceful valley. — Where indeed are they — 

The Indians — the Penacooks once proud — 

Who filled this realm of plenty ? From the vast, 

On restless, subtle waves the question breathes 

To test the heart's compassion. As the air 

Plays softly in the ear, the lisping leaves 

Take up its accents, and the forest sighs 

Its sweet, sad requiem, and as the breeze 

Floats gently down the slopes and stirs the dells, 

The swaying ferns and grasses sob and make 

Responsive lamentation. Then still thought, ■ 

In tender mood, regretful, hopeful, strong, 

The question bears up to the Endless World. 



THE LAST POWWOW. IO3 



POSTLUDE. 

|F aught I have left unsung, 
t I will give it to the earth ; 
For the bee knows 
Where the bloom grows, 
And honeyed drops have birth : 
Love's feet have strayed afar, 
Perchance where roses are ; 
The land's delight 
May render bright 
My notes from sorrow wrung. 

If aught I have left unsung, 
I will give it to the air ; 

For the bird flies. 

When the leaf dies. 
On balmy breezes fair ; 
Sweet love hath flown away, 
Perhaps when zephyrs play — 

Kind winds that make 

Tones glad that break 
So sadly on the tongue. 

If aught I have left unsung, 
I will give it to the sky ; 
For the stars peep. 
While the shades creep 
But cannot reach so high : 
Love haply finds a rest 
In starry mansions blest. 
While the great dome 
My song takes home. 
Where joys from woes have sprung. 



NOTES. 



NOTES TO THE SEER. 



1. Page 7. The Merrimack River, which rises in New 
Hampshire. 

2. Page 7. The name Crystal Hills was given by early 
explorers of New Hampshire to the White Mountains. 

3. Page 10. This imaginary time recedes from the year 
1892. 

4. Page 10. A spot is conceived on a highland within 
the limits of the present city of Concord. 

5 . Page 1 1 . This name is assumed for reasons that 
appear later. See note 18. 

6. Page II. The native Indians of New Hampshire were 
of the Algonquin race and of the Nipmuck family. 

7. Page II. The term Penacook, the "Crooked Place," 
refers to the tortuous course of the river Merrimack within 
the limits of the city of Concord. It appears that the Indi- 
ans of New Hampshire frequently adopted tribal names from 
the localities where they resided. 

8. Page II. It is doubtful if the eastern Indians of the 
present territory of the United States ever employed the 



I08 NOTES, 

skins of animals in the construction of their wigwams, 
though there is historic evidence that the western Indians did 
so. The word noted is used by poetic license. 

9. Page II. An assumed name. 

10. Page II. The Manit, or Manitou, was the supreme 
deity of the American Indians. 

11. Page 12. The Indian sannups, or males of the tribe, 
only occasionally condescended to labor, work being the spe- 
cial function of the squaws. 

12. Page 14. The term 77iedicine^ as used among the 
Indians, seems to imply the existence of an occult gift in the 
man who subjectively adopts it. In astrology, also, people 
who are born under the special influence of the ascending sun 
are said to be proud. Some mystics have also asserted that 
persons who are born under a peculiar aspect of the sun are 
gifted with a second sight. 

13. Page 15. Among the Indians, the rite of burying the 
tomahawk symbolized the prevalence of peace. 

14. Page 16. According to an imperfect tradition, feathers 
were worn only by chiefs or their sons. 

15. Page 17. The Indian idea of making medicine seems 
to imply something akin to conjuration, while it may mean 
something like deep introspection, which often absorbs the 
whole consciousness. 

16. Page 18. Deer and wolf was an athletic game played 
by Indian children. 



NOTES, 109 

17. Page 19. The Indian word powwow is equivalent to 
priest or conjurer. 

18. Page 22. The name Passaconnaway, from papoeis, a 
child, and kunnewa, a bear, seems by right of analogy to 
demand the penultimate consonant we give it. The interpre- 
tation ''Child of the Bear" suggests the assumed name of 
Kunnewa, ascribed to Passaconnaway's father. 

19. Page 23. An assumed name. 

20. Page 23. See Whittier's poem, "The Bridal of Pen- 
a;cook," for an account of " Weetamoo," or Wanuchus, who 
married " Winnipurkit," chief of the tribe of Saugus. 

21. Page 23. The Indian name Merrimack is said to 
mean " Swift- Water-Place." 

22. Page 23. Namaoskeag, now Amoskeag, was the tra- 
ditional chief residence of Passaconnaway. See Potter's 
History of Manchester, N. H., p. 56. There are traditions 
that indicate that Passaconnaway may have had several tem- 
porary residences. 

23. Page 24. This island is Sewall's, about three miles 
above the city proper of Concord. 

24. Page 24. The location of the island is about a mile 
north of the mouth of the Souhegan. 

25. Page 25. A thoughtful contemplation of Passaconna- 
way seems to suggest the idea that he was much more than a 
mere magician. A savage of extraordinary natural talents, 
and of keen practical intelligence, there are apparent indica- 



no NOTES. 

tions that he excelled in that nobility of soul that seems at 
times to surmount the mere world of sense and for the time 
being dwell in the loftier realms of soulful realization. 

26. Page 26. A fanciful meaning ascribed to the name 
Winnipesaiikee is " The Smile of the Great Spirit.'" 

27. Page 30. The Tarrantine tribe of Indians, foes of the 
Penacooks, lived east of the Penobscot River in Maine. 

28. Page 30. The Mohog, or Mohawk, tribe of Indians, 
perennial enemies of the Penacooks, lived in the valley of 
the Mohawk River in New York. 

29. Page 30. The early eminence called Sugar Ball, on 
the east side of the Merrimack River, and opposite the north 
end of the Main Street of the city of Concord. 

30. Page 30. The spot is called Fort Eddy at the present 
time. 

31. Page 32. See note 7. 

32. Page 32. Pentucket, the same as Pawtucket, was in 
the vicinity of Lowell, Mass. 

33. Page 32. Swampscot was in the vicinity of Exeter, 
N. H. 

34. Page 32. Newichwannock, sometimes Newichewan- 
nock, was in the vicinity of Berwick Falls, Maine. 

35. Page 32. The term Bashaba is said to be equivalent 
to Emperor. The tribes under Bashaba are affirmed to be as 
many as sixteen, representing a domain extending from 
Maine to Massachusetts. However, by referring to note 7, 



NOTES. Ill 

the reader is reminded that a local name of a tribe does not 
always appear to imjDly a strictly natural classification of 
subordinate divisions of the Indian race. 

36. Page 35. It is but natural to suppose that, before civ- 
ilization occupied the soil of New Hampshire, and in conse- 
quence of civilized settlements elsewhere, Passaconnaway 
was duly informed of the incipient progress of a new order of 
things in America, which history asserts he at first feared. 

2)^ . Page 35. Reference is here made to the somewhat 
rare geographical fact that, between the Great Bay and the 
Atlantic Ocean, the Piscataqua River both flows and reflows 
to and from the sea, according to the alternate motion of the 
tides. 

38. Page 36. History asserts that Passaconnaway was 
possibly first known to the English through Christopher 
Leavitt, who met the great chief at Piscataqua, when on 
a mission from Massachusetts, the year being 1623. 

39. Page '^6. Among the Indians, the rite of smoking the 
pipe together was emblematic of peace. 

40. Page 38. The English trader thus slain, and whose 
murderer was delivered to civil authority by Passaconnaway, 
bore the name of Jenkins. The rendition was in 1632. 

41. Page 40. The unfortunate and unjust treatment of 
Passaconnaway and his son and son's family here described 
occurred in 1642, result of a hasty act of the governor of 
Massachusetts. 

42. Page 42. In 1644, Governor Winthrop, of Massachu- 
setts, made the following assertion : " Passaconnaway and his 



112 NOTES. 

son desire to come under this government. He and one of 
his sons subscribe the articles ; and he undertook for the 
others." Winthrop further recorded, — " Passaconnaway, the 
Merrimack sachem, came in and submitted to our govern- 
ment." See Bouton^s History of Concord, N. H., p. 23. 

43. Page 45. The annotated passage refers to the Rev. 
John EUot, apostle to the Indians, of whom tradition says 
Passaconnaway entertained fear. 

44. Page 47. Eliot on this occasion preached from the 
text found in Malachi I: 11, and tradition says he substi- 
tuted " Gentiles " and " incense "by " Indians" and " pray- 
er." The year was 1648. 

45. Page 55. Tradition makes Passaconnaway, in this 
address, delivered in 1660, admit that he had vainly 
employed his magical arts against the English. 

46. Page 58. It is not certainly known at what time Pas- 
saconnaway died, or at what age. He appears to have been 
living in 1663, and it is supposed that he died at the great 
age of about 120 years. 

47. Page 59. This tract of land, including the two islands, 
is now embraced in the territory of Merrimack and Litch- 
field, New Hampshire towns. The islands are called Reed's. 

48. Page 59. History attests the fact that the sons and 
successors of Passaconnaway measurably at least emulated 
his character. 

49. Page 60. The medicine man, or conjuror, exercised 
his art to free others from the influence of evil spirits, doing 
so with noisy demonstrations. 



NOTES TO THE LAST POWWOW. 



1. Page 67. A spot within the hmits of the city of Con- 
cord, N. H., in the valley of the Merrimack River, was the 
scene that prompted the theme of this narrative. 

2. Page 68. A sachem, in the ordinary tribal relations of 
the Indians, appears to have been a chief of the first rank. 

3. Page 68. Pehaungun is said to have been the last 
native Indian who died within the limits of Concord, where 
once roamed the Penacook tribe. Pehaungun^s wigwam is 
said to have been on the present farm of Andrew Fammxi, 
of East Concord. 

4. Page 70. Passaconnaway was the first chief of Pena- 
cooks known to the white settlers of New Hampshire. 

5. Page 70. See note 35 of The Seer. 

6. Page 70. See note 18 of The Seer for the derivation 
of the name Passaconnaway. 

7. Page 70. See note 6 of The Seer. 

8. Page 71. The executive skill, prudent counsel, and 
religious character of Passaconnaway are amply attested in 
history. 



114 NOTES. 

9. Page 74. Passaconnaway claimed that his spirit was 
in conscious communication with the Manit, or Manatou. 
See Note 10 of The Seer. 

10. Page 'J'] . The Indian term occuwee was a name for 
spirituous Hquor, or "fire-water." 

11. Page ^^ . Tahanto is called a sagamore, a term which, 
strictly speaking, appears to have belonged to a chief of a 
rank lower than a sachem, though the terms are frequently 
interchanged by early historians. See note 2. 

12. Page JJ . On the 27th of October, 1668, Tahanto is 
said to have met a party of Englishmen who had come to 
Penacook (now Concord), and he advised them if they had 
any liquor to pour it out, as it would make the Indians " all 
one divill." 

13. Page yS. Wonalancet emulated the virtues of his 
father with apparent strictness. He is said to have been 
converted by Eliot in 1674. 

14. Page 78. Philip's Indian war broke out in 1675. ^^ 
the intelligent reader knows, the white settlers of New Eng- 
land were not only thrown into great consternation, but 
many suffered in their lives or property, in consequence 
of it. 

15. Page 79. Wonalancet retired into the wilderness as 
far as the head-waters of the Connecticut River. He was 
absent from civilized haunts a year. Returning, though sub- 
jected to suspicion and injury, he proved himself a sincere 
friend to the white man's cause. 



NOTES. 115 

16. Page 79. Cocheco is now the city of Dover, N. H. 

17. Page 80. In 1676, Wonalancet, having submitted to 
English authority at Cocheco, saved the Widow Kimball and 
her five children, as the text asserts. The Kimball family 
was of Bradford, Mass. 

18. Page 81. It is not certainly known how Wonalancet 
closed his earthly career. He appears to have joined the St. 
Francis tribe of Indians upon the border of Canada, and it 
is supposed he died among them. 

19. Page 82. Kancamaugus was an able man, who 
attained some English education, being competent to write a 
passable letter, subscribing himself "John Hogkins," his 
colloquially assumed name. However, history asserts his 
unreliable character, and he is said to have been concerned 
in the Indian massacre at Cocheco, June 27, 1689. 

20. Page 82. Major Waldron, commander of the English 
military station at Cocheco, previously to the massacre which 
cost him his life, had been warned of imminent danger from 
an Indian foray, but he disregarded the apprehension. 

21. Page 82. At the time implied, there were wandering 
in New Hampshire a representation of Indians who had been 
engaged in Philip's war. These were considered somewhat 
as outlaws and were called " strange Indians.'' 

22. Page 83. Major Waldron's assurance on this occasion 
was purely presumptive, as the sequel shows. 

23. Page 83. Historic opinion has been divided in regard 
to the true judicial attitude in which Major Waldron stood to 



Il6 NOTES. 

the Indians. That he was an object of their vengeance is 
sure : that he deserved their revenge is not so certain. A 
number of Indians had been inveigled into captivity in con- 
sequence of their participation in Philip's war, and Waldron's 
fate sealed the natural resentment of the savages ; but it is 
still claimed that the English act of betrayal was discounte- 
nanced by Waldron. 

24. Page 83. History says the Indians rushed into Major 
Waldron's presence shouting, *'Who shall judge Indians 
now?'' 

25. Page 84. It is said that not less than twenty- three 
persons were killed at this massacre. 

26. Page 84. It appears that after the massacre at Cocheco 
a considerable number of the Penacook Indians repaired to 
the St. Francis tribe. 

27. Page 85. Among these prospective settlers were Henry 
Rolfe and Richard Urann. 

28. Page 86. See note 12 in reference to Penacook as the 
ancient name of Concord. See also note 7 of The Seer. 

29. Page 87. The Rev. Timothy Walker was the first 
minister of Concord, ordained and installed in 1730. His 
permanent home, made a garrison in 1729, is now the re- 
modeled residence of the Hon. Joseph B. Walker, at the 
north end of Main Street. 

30. Page 88. This son was afterwards Hon. Timothy 
Walker. 

31. Page 89. Wattanummon lived in the vicinity of East 



NOTES, ■ 117 

Concord. The stream by which Horseshoe Pond is drained 
into the Merrimack is called Wattanummon's Brook to this 
day. Wattanummon's wigwam stood near the south end of 
the railroad bridge across this brook. 

32. Page 89. Ebenezer Eastman settled at Penacook as 
early as 1727, and built a block house on present land of 
John Frye, just south of the freight depot at East Concord. 
Eastman is said to have been the first settler in Penacook. 

'>^2>' Page 89. The spot is now called Wattanummon's 
Field, being west of the Merrimack River and containing about 
100 acres, owned by Hon. J. B. Walker, Hon. J. H. Pear- 
son, and Charles Farnum. 

34. Page 90. This chief was named Peorawarrah, and he 
is said to have lived below Penacook on the Merrimack River. 

35. Page 90. This was SewalPs Island. See note 23 of 
The Seer. 

36. Page 91. The place where the body lodged is called 
Squaw Lot to this day. About eighty rods up the river from 
the bridge on the East Concord road is the spot where the 
body lodged, on land owned by Col. J. E. Pecker, the river 
having changed its course and left the spot inland. 

2^"] . Page 92. Pehaungun is supposed to have lived to the 
age of over 100 years. 

38. Page 92. Pehaungun died about the year 1732. 

39. Page 96. See note 17 of The Seer for the definition 
of the Indian term powwow, which had both a personal and 
a collective application. 



Il8 NOTES, 

40. Page 97. The spot was probably not far from the site 
of the present capacious ice-house, where was once an eleva- 
tion called Pond Hill, cut down when the Concord & Clare- 
mont Railroad traversed the spot. 

41. Page 99. The time of the Last Powwow is not very 
definitely ascertained. It occurred between the years 173O' 
and 1744. 

42. Page 102. In 1744, the War of the Austrian Succession 
broke out, involving the martial contention of the English 
and French, both in Europe and America. The outbreak 
of this war inaugurated a state of conflict between the Eng- 
lish and French that lasted, with slight interruption, about 
twenty years. During this time, the English settlers of New 
England were in much peril of the incursions of Indians, 
who, from the borders of Canada, and in the interest of the 
French, swept southerly to prey upon the English, especially 
seeking captives to be held for pecuniary ransoms. Since a 
considerable portion of the Penacook tribe was dispersed 
among the St. Francis Indians, special enemies of the Eng- 
lish, it is assumed that native Penacooks may have been 
engaged in some of the Indian forays from which the Eng- 
lish settlers suffered during the time described. 



mm^,'n^-K:, 



